Mechanical harvesting of plums for processing with a continuously moving combine harvester

Abstract

Eleven plum cultivars (Prunus domestica L.) for processing grafted on semidwarf rootstock ‘Wangenheim Prune’ and vigorous rootstock ‘Myrobalan’ were densely planted (1000, 1250, 1666, 2500 trees ha-1) and trained to central leader spindle tree. A new training system was applied to obtain trees suitable for mechanical harvesting. The leader was not headed after planting and summer training procedures were performed in May/June. From the third year onwards, renewal pruning was carried out after fruit harvesting. The new training and pruning systems resulted in very fast tree growth, abundant branching, fruit bud formation on young wood and early bearing. The plum trees appeared to be suitable for hand and mechanical harvesting within 3 years from planting. The self propelled straddle combine harvester was able to harvest 2-3 tons of plums per hour compared to 30 kg with hand picking. Harvesting effectiveness was 90-95%. The quality of mechanically harvested plums was a little worse than of those hand picked, but fruits were suitable for processing. The ‘Common Prune’ and the prune type small plums were the most suitable fruit for mechanical harvesting.

Growth and yield of plum trees in response to in-row orchard floor management

“…Most of the flowers and fruits in 2010-2015 were growing on 2-year-old shoots and the proportions between 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old shoots were the same for trees growing on all types of plots (Table 4). However, according to Mika et al (2012), on 3-year-old trees of the cultivar Valjevka growing in an herbicide fallow system, the greatest number of fruits grew on 1-year-old shoots, although the differences between the percentages of fruits growing on 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old shoots were not significant. On control, mulched, and mowed plots sprayed with herbicides, fruit setting on 2-year-old shoots was considerably better than on 1-year-old and 3-year-old shoots (Table 4).…”

“…Production in Poland, consisting mainly of the fruits of Prunus domestica L., is estimated at 100,000 t. The Serbian cultivar Valjevka is characterized by high quality of fruits, tolerance to plum pox virus (Ogašanovic, 1990), midseason time of ripening, low susceptibility to diseases and pests (Głowacka and Rozpara, 2014), and suitability for mechanized harvest with combine harvesters (Mika et al, 2012).…”

Preliminary Valuation of “Y” and “V”-Trellised Canopies for Mechanical Harvesting of Plums, Sweet Cherries and Sour Cherries for the Fresh Market

“…At present, several species of fruit bushes, sour cherries, olives, plums, and other species are mechanically harvested (Brown et al 1983;Wawrzyńczak et al 1998;Jiménez et al 2011;Ferguson et al 2012;Mika et al 2012). Experimental works are still being conducted to improve harvesting technology (Ampatzidis et al 2012;Larbi & Karkee 2014;He et al 2015).…”

“…Fruits were not suitable for the fresh market because of bruising. Mika et al (2012) demonstrated mechanical harvesting of densely planted plum trees trained to the central leader, and pruned by the renewal method, with a self-propelled straddle canopy contact harvester. The harvesting efficiency was 2-3 t·h -1 , with 90-95% effectiveness.…”

Selection of Prune (<i>Prunus domestica</i> L.) Cultivars Suitable for the East Asian Temperate Monsoon Climate: Ripening Characteristics and Fruit Qualities of Certain Prunes in a Warm Southwest Region of Japan

“…In European prune-producing regions, prune flowering time is generally from late March to early April (Milosevic et al, 2010;Šebek, 2013). However, frost damage during flowering time may reduce fruiting outcomes (Mika et al, 2012;Neumüller, 2011;Yao, 2011). In Izumo, the flowering time is from late March to mid-April, which is during frost season.…”