The Economic Analysis of Semi-mechanised Harvesting of Lemon Balm

Abstract

In recent years area for cultivation of Melissa officinalis is ranged around 40 ha. Low production could be also caused by less intensive use of machinery. Aerial parts could be fully harvested by mechanisation, but in case of small growers using of special machinery is not economic. The majority of growers harvest manually and this type of harvest represents up to 80% of the costs associated with the cultivation. The less expensive alternative of harvest by a hedge trimmer is evaluated in this article. The goal is to compare two ways of harvest (manual harvest and hedge trimmer harvest) of lemon balm aerial parts in production practise. According to results of experiments were calculated and determined boundaries of effective use of hedge trimmer in production of lemon balm in comparision to manual harvest and fully mechanised harvest. Obtained data shown an increase of harvest performance in case of hedge trimmer (0.0425–0.0525 ha.hr−1) compared to manual harvest (0.0185–0.0216 ha.hr−1). According to calculations, we can say that effective use of hedge trimmer (including purchase price) is from 0.37 ha at planting surface and 0.48 ha at planting rows. Results could also be used for other MAP crops with similar harvest technology as for lemon balm (for example Mentha spp., Origanum spp., Achillea spp.).