Abstract
In 2009, the Side-Row Continuous Canopy Shaking Harvester project was set to develop such technology. The prototype comprises two symmetrical harvesters trailed by a farm tractor. Each harvester has a vibratory rotor with flexible rods, a catching platform with conveyors belts delivering fruits to a temporary storage bag. The removal efficiency of canopy shakers are influenced by factors like shaking frequency, ground speed as well as the dimension and shape of olive canopy. In 2014 authors started a trial to evaluate the influence of pruning in olive yield and in the performance of the Side-Row Continuous Canopy Shaking Harvester. The trial was established in an irrigated olive orchard of Picual cultivar planted in 1996 with the array 7 m x 3.5 m. In a randomised complete block design with three replications, four treatments are being compared leading to 12 plots with 30 trees/plot. The treatments under study are: T1—manual pruning using chain saws, in 2014 and 2017; T2—mechanical pruning: topping and hedging the two sides of the canopy, followed by manual pruning complement to remove wood suckers inside the canopy, in 2014 and 2017; T3—mechanical pruning: topping the canopy parallel to the ground and hedging southeast side of the canopy in 2014 and 2017; topping the canopy in July 2015 (summer pruning); hedging northwest side in winter 2016; T4—mechanical pruning: topping and hedging the two sides of the canopy in 2014 and 2017; topping the canopy in July 2015 (summer pruning). Regarding to olive yield per tree, significant differences were found among treatments on different years. However, no significant differences were found regarding the average olive yield per tree, over the period of 2014–2017. Regarding to the olive removal efficiency, only in 2016, significant differences were found among treatments on different years. No significant differences were found regarding the average of the olive removal efficiency, over the period of 2014–2017.
Highlights
In Portugal there are currently 40,000 ha of high density olive groves (200 to 500 trees per hectare), mostly irrigated
Olive harvest in high density olive orchards is usually performed by a tractor mounted trunk shaker and a canvas manually placed on the ground under the tree
Tree shape, canopy density, and pruning affect mechanical harvesting efficiency with canopy shakers (Ferguson et al, 2010). It has been reported (Ferguson and Castro-García, 2014) that with adequate mechanical pruning, a canopy shaker harvester in table olives has provided greater harvest efficiency than manual harvesting of manually pruned trees, this year there was a significant decrease in olive production in trees subjected to mechanical pruning
Summary
In Portugal there are currently 40,000 ha of high density olive groves (200 to 500 trees per hectare), mostly irrigated. The same authors reported harvest efficiencies of 86 to 96% with a Colossus straddle harvester in an 8 years old olive grove, in Australia. Tree shape, canopy density, and pruning affect mechanical harvesting efficiency with canopy shakers (Ferguson et al, 2010). It has been reported (Ferguson and Castro-García, 2014) that with adequate mechanical pruning, a canopy shaker harvester in table olives has provided greater harvest efficiency than manual harvesting of manually pruned trees, this year there was a significant decrease in olive production in trees subjected to mechanical pruning. This paper presents and discusses the results of research conducted on a 20-year-old intensive olive grove to evaluate the influence of mechanical pruning on olive production and the performance of the SRCCSH
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