Abstract:The basic principle of silviculture is the rational use of natural regeneration. The acceleration and equalisation of seed germination and an increase of the field seed germination ability are affected by seed scarification, which results in the destruction or weakening of the seed cover. Acorn scarification is performed manually, in the standing position, most often in adapted work stations, whose geometry is adjusted by the staff to their own anthropometric dimensions. An added value of acorn scarification consists in the ability to visually assess the health status of the cotyledons visible on the cross-section, making it possible to infer the potential use of a seed for sowing. However, due to the scope and duration of the activities involved, manual scarification is a process that is monotonous and physically as well as psychologically tiring for its performer. Automating of this process allows for effective replacement of human labour. The results obtained from the use of the vision system designed to determine the length and orientation of acorns may be considered satisfactory. The implementation of the seed orientation detection algorithm using the Harris detector was 90% accurate. Studies and analyses have shown that the process of acorn scarification has a positive effect on the later improvement of uniformity and acceleration of seedling emergence. In the case of seeds subjected to scarification, 83% of the acorns germinated within 4 to 6 weeks after sowing.

Due to technological progress in forestry, seedlings with covered root systems-especially those grown in container nurseries-have become increasingly important in forest nursery production. One the trees that is most commonly grown this way is the common oak (Quercus robur L.). For an acorn to be sown in a container, it is necessary to remove its upper part during mechanical scarification, and evaluate its sowing suitability. At present, this is mainly done manually and by visual assessment. The low effectiveness of this method of acorn preparation has encouraged a search for unconventional solutions. One of them is the use of an automated device that consists of a computer vision-based module. For economic reasons related to the cost of growing seedlings in container nurseries, it is beneficial to minimize the contribution of unhealthy seeds. The maximum accuracy, which is understood as the number of correct seed diagnoses relative to the total number of seeds being assessed, was adopted as a criterion for choosing a separation threshold. According to the method proposed, the intensity and red components of the images of scarified acorns facilitated the best results in terms of the materials examined during the experiment. On average, a 10% inaccuracy of separation was observed. A secondary outcome of the presented research is an evaluation of the ergonomic parameters of the user interface that is attached to the unit controlling the device when it is running in its autonomous operation mode.

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The article presents road transport planning in an agricultural enterprise using a GPS system for recording the work of transport means and assessing the efficiency of internal and external transport. The research was carried out in an agricultural enterprise during winter wheat harvest, winter rape and corn for grain from a total area of 460 ha. The fields were located from the headquarters within a radius of 10.75 km. A total of 4479.8 tons were transported. On the basis of the results obtained, the duration of the course with and without cargo was calculated, the turnover time, the size of the freight stream and the operational and technical speed.

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The objective of the paper was to determine the work expenditures and costs of eradication of an energy willow plantation with currently applied mechanical methods and with the use of the test model of a machine for cutting willow rootstocks as a part of the scientific project no. PBS2/A8/26/2014. The scope of the paper covered research for four machine units constructed for a twelve-year willow plantation with the surface area of 3 ha. Work inputs for eradication of the plantation of the investigated aggregates were within 8.1 to 50.4 mhr•ha -1 . Work inputs with the new machine were 22.3 mhr•ha -1 . The level of work inputs was influenced by low working speeds of the tractor-machine unit and working speeds from 0.4 to 2.3 m. Costs of willow plantation eradication with current mechanical methods were from 4302 to 15536 PLN•ha -1 , and with the use of the new machine it was 5457 PLN•ha -1 .

The goal of the research described in the article was to develop the device for the automatic scarification of acorns and computer vision-based assessment of their viability. The color image of the intersection of the tissue of cotyledons was selected as a key feature for separating healthy seeds from the spoiled ones. Because the device is being designed for the diagnosis of high volume of seeds aiming at producing high-quality seedlings, several assessment criteria of the overall design of the automaton are being assessed. The basic one is the overall accuracy of viability recognition. The other refers to particular functions implemented in the model of the device being described.