EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF OLIVE TREES IN SOME DESERT RIGONS

Morad, M.M.; Afify, M.Kh.; El-Kot, A.S.; Zaky, Kh.M.

doi:10.21608/mjae.2010.105750

EVALUATION OF MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF OLIVE TREES IN SOME DESERT RIGONS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Prof. of Agric. Eng. Dep., Fac. Agric. Zagazig Univ., Egypt.

² Associate prof. of Agric. Eng., Soil Conservation Dep., D.R.C, Egypt.

³ Agronomist, South Sinai Research Station. D.R.C. , Egypt.

10.21608/mjae.2010.105750

Abstract

A comb harvesting machine was locally manufactured from low cost, local material to be suitable for olive harvesting. Performance evaluation of the manufactured machine was carried out in terms of harvesting time and comb rotating velocity comparing with four traditional methods of olive harvesting (vibrating comb, shaking the brunches, beating the brunches and climbing the trees using ladder). Three different olive trees varieties (Toffahey, Agezzey and Picual) were harvested by the above mentioned harvesting methods. The results showed that quality percentages of olive were 95.5, 75, 85, 85, and 85% for the manufactured comb harvesting machine, vibrating comb, shaking the brunches, beating the brunches and climbing the trees using ladder respectively. The energy requirements values were 9.267, 14.49, 122.9, 122.9 and 122.9kW.h/ton for the same harvesting methods. While the costs values for the harvesting operation were 95.1, 322.36, 2375, 2375 and 2375LE/ton under the same harvesting methods. The best results were achieved with the use of the manufactured comb harvesting machine at comb rotating velocity of 30 rpm during the third harvesting time.

Main Subjects

Agricultural Power and Machinery Engineering

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