Effect of Harvesting System on Labor-saving in Sweetpotato Cultivation

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of mechanization on lavor-saving in sweetpotato cultivation. The field experiment was conducted from 2005 to 2006 in Mokpo Experiment Station of the National Institute of Crop Science. In order to determine the efficiency of mechanical harvesting, different harvesting methods were compared. Mechanical harvesting method was done as follows: cutting of vines by machine, removal of plastic film mulching, and harvesting by two-row and one-row harvesting system. The result showed harvesting labor was decreased by 66.6% in two-row harvesting. The ratio of damaged sweetpotato by mechanical harvesting decreased by 49.4% in two-row and 38.4% in one-row harvesting compared to conventional method. The total labor cost was saved by 48.2%-70.4% using mechanical method. In addition, the total income also increased by ca. 62.9%-81.2%. Thus, it was concluded that mechanical harvesting is more efficient and economical method than conventional one.