Harvesting potatoes into water in a water-tight truck bed

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of harvesting potatoes into water on tuber injury and to determine if the operation was commercially feasible. It was found that tubers harvested into water had fewer and lighter colored blackspots than tubers harvested into conventional flat-bed or chain-conveyor bulk potato trucks. Harvesting into water also reduced external tuber injury demonstrating that truck beds may not need elaborate padding. Some problems of operation in the field were minimized, particularly the need to closely synchronize tractor and truck speeds when building loads, and the close control of the loading boom with respect to the truck bed as the truck or harvester bounced over unavoidable obstacles in the field. Potatoes were partially pre-washed during the handling operation. Unloading potatoes with water at the packing house, in addition to reducing injury, eliminated the need for moving parts such as conveyors or hoists for discharging tubers, indicating that initial purchase costs of truck beds as well as maintenance costs would be reduced.