Abstract
The purpose of this research is to facilitate the mechanical harvesting of apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) for industry. A tractor-trailed harvester was built to catch the fruits detached from apricot (cv. Búlida) trees by vibratory systems. This machine is a low profile catcher that can move under the trees in high-density canopies where umbrella-type harvesters cannot. The trailer is able to work under trees with as little free-trunk height as 0.35 m. The tests were donein 5- to 9-year-old apricot trees, planted in two frame, 2.5 m and 4.5 m in-the-row distances, with 6.5 m between rows in both cases. To detach the fruit, two hand-held pneumatic shakers were used. Harvest rate was 61 and 44 trees h-1 for each type of orchard, respectively. The main conclusion is that the trailer, together with branch-shakers, can work innarrow orchards of low canopy trees where other machines can not go in.
Highlights
Tree shaking is a suitable detachment technique for apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) (Mady, 1982), and apricots cv
In 2003, Erdogan et al designed and constructed an inertia type limb shaker, hydraulically powered and driven by the tractor power take-off, for the mechanical harvesting of apricots. They studied some of the properties of apricots: the time needed to shake a limb, the optimum frequency and amplitude to obtain the maximum fruit removal with the minimum reactive force, and the fruit removal percentage
They measured the percentage of fruit damage and the harvesting rate, and compared the shaker with other harvesting systems
Summary
Tree shaking is a suitable detachment technique for apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) (Mady, 1982), and apricots cv. In 2003, Erdogan et al designed and constructed an inertia type limb shaker, hydraulically powered and driven by the tractor power take-off, for the mechanical harvesting of apricots They studied some of the properties of apricots: the time needed to shake a limb, the optimum frequency and amplitude to obtain the maximum fruit removal with the minimum reactive force, and the fruit removal percentage. Like the non-stop harvesters based on a pair of mirror image units, each working on one side of the row and provided with plane surfaces, can work in hedge-type orchards They need nearly 1 m of free trunk height to place the shaker and the catching planes (Torregrosa et al, 2006), and most orchard trees have short trunks, less than 0.5 m in height. The catching surfaces should be cushioned to reduce fruit damage and the harvester adapted to fields with longitudinal and transverse slopes
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
