The Effect of Different Orchard Ground Conditions on the Performance of A Mechanical Hazelnut Harvesting Machine

Abstract

In this study, the values of harvesting efficiency, field productivity, kernel productivity, kernel losses, and foreign material separation efficiency of hazelnut harvesting machine with mechanical harvesting unit were determined under different orchard ground conditions (ground preparation before harvesting (OG1) and without ground preparation (OG2)). Also, it was observed how these conditions affect the operation of the hazelnut harvesting machine. For this purpose, the harvesting efficiency, field productivity, kernel productivity and kernel losses of the hazelnut harvesting machine in OG1 and OG2 plots at 265.50 kg ha-1 orchard yield, 1600 mm working width and 1.60 m s-1 working velocity in two different orchard grounds were 96.05%, 90.15%; 8.624 h ha-1, 9.839 h ha-1; 0.116 ha h-1, 0.102 ha h-1; 778.72 kg h-1, 739.76 kg h-1; 3.95%, 9.85%, respectively. The hazelnut harvesting machine with a mechanical harvesting unit can work independently from the ground conditions and we can say that it is an alternative to other hazelnut harvesting machines. The data obtained from the study will help the decision-making process for the best selection and use by providing the necessary technical information about the functional aspects of the machine. Complete mechanization of hazelnut harvesting will lead to a decrease in labor requirements, thus increasing product profitability through a decrease in production cost. The presence of machines with high-performance characteristics in hazelnut harvesting mechanization will shorten the time the product stays on the ground and increase the quality of the harvested product.