Influence of Wild Blueberry Fruit Yield, Plant Height, and Ground Slope on Picking Performance of a Mechanical Harvester: Basis for Automation

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 655-666
Author(s):  
Aitazaz Ahsan Farooque ◽  
Qamar Uz Zaman ◽  
Travis Esau ◽  
Young Ki Chang ◽  
Arnold Walter Schumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Operating Parameters ◽  
Profit Margins ◽  
Ground Speed ◽  
Ground Slope ◽  
Head Height ◽  
Wild Blueberry

Abstract. Spatial variability in fruit losses in relation to fruit yield, plant height, and ground slope can help to automate the wild blueberry harvester to improve picking performance. Currently, harvester operators adjust harvester’s head height, ground speed, and revolutions per minute (rpm) manually. This is not only laborious but also stressful for operators, as they encounter spatial variability during harvesting. The goal of this work was to identify the automation potential of the harvester to improve harvestable yield and reduce operator’s stress, keeping in view the spatial variability. Two fields were selected and test plots were constructed to examine the performance of the harvester in five zones of plant height, fruit yield, and ground slope. Fruit yield plant height and ground slope were recorded from each plot manually to examine their impact on total fruit loss. Keywords: Automation, Fruit losses, Spatial variability, Wild blueberry, Zonal analysis.Results confirmed significant variability in fruit yield, plant height, and ground slope. Fruit losses were significantly influenced by the spatial variations. Fruit losses increased with an increase in fruit yield and ground slope during mechanical harvesting. The picking performance of the blueberry harvester was significantly lower in short and very tall plants within selected fields. The dependence of fruit losses on fruit yield, plant height, and ground slope emphasize the need for real-time adjustments in machine operating parameters to improve berry recovery. Based on the results, it is concluded that there is a significant advantage of harvester’s automation to increase profit margins for growers with no additional cost. Keywords: Automation, Fruit losses, Spatial variability, Wild blueberry, Zonal analysis.

Impact of Wild Blueberry Fruit Characteristics and Machine Parameters on Performance of a Mechanical Harvester: Basis for Automation

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-280
Author(s):  
Qamar U Zaman ◽  
Muhammad W Jameel ◽  
Aitazaz A Farooque ◽  
Travis J Esau ◽  
Arnold W Schumann
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Average Yield ◽  
Fruit Characteristics ◽  
Ground Speed ◽  
Harvest Efficiency ◽  
Average Plant ◽  
Head Height ◽  
Wild Blueberry ◽  
Fruit Diameter ◽  
Average Plant Height

HighlightsAutomated harvesting of wild blueberry can decrease cost of production.Ground speed and header RPM of a wild blueberry harvester have been evaluated for efficiency.Increased harvestable yield will generate more revenue for wild blueberry growers.This study suggests automation of the wild blueberry harvester to improve harvest efficiency.Abstract. Mechanical harvesting of wild blueberries results in fruit losses during manual adjustment of harvester’s operations in fields of variable fruit characteristics (fruit yield, fruit zone, and fruit diameter). This study examined the impact of fruit characteristics and machine operating parameters including harvester ground speed (1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 km h-1) and header revolutions per minute (26, 28, and 30 rpm) on berry losses. Fruit characteristics were classified into two categories; i.e., fruit zone (LFZ: low fruit zone - average plant height = 17 cm and HFZ; high fruit zone - average plant height > 17 cm) and fruit yield (LFY; low fruit yield - average yield = 3000 kg ha-1 and HFY; high fruit yield - average yield > 3000 kg ha-1). Experimental treatments (ground speed × RPM: 3×3) were randomly replicated thrice under factorial design in four fields at each combination of fruit characteristics (LFZ-LFY, LFZ-HFY, HFZ-LFY, and HFZ-HFY). The fruit diameter was used as a co-variate in this study. With moderate to high variability in fruit characteristics and berry losses within the selected fields, the picking performance of the tested harvester was better in the high fruit zone irrespective of fruit yield at all treatment combinations of ground speed and header rpm. There were lesser fruit losses in high yielding areas at the lowest ground speed and header rpm. The harvester’s picking performance was better in high fruit zone areas at a traditional head height of up to 10 cm above ground. However, 5%-15% variations in fruit zone reduced berry picking efficiency at a constant head height. It is concluded that the selection of an ideal combination of harvester ground speed and header rpm based on crop variations in blueberry fields can minimize berry losses during harvesting. The findings of this study would suggest that automation of the tested wild blueberry harvester could improve harvest efficiency Keywords: Automation, Fruit losses, Mechanical harvester, Operational settings, Wild blueberry.

A real-time ultrasonic system to measure wild blueberry plant height during harvesting

2017 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 35-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young K. Chang ◽  
Qamar U. Zaman ◽  
Tanzeel U. Rehman ◽  
Aitazaz A. Farooque ◽  
Travis Esau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Wild Blueberry

Estimation of Wild Blueberry Fruit Yield Using Digital Color Photography

2008 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 1539-1544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. U. Zaman ◽  
A. W. Schumann ◽  
D. C. Percival ◽  
R. J. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Color Photography ◽  
Wild Blueberry

scholarly journals Variance components and correlations of agronomic traits among cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) maturity groups

Genetika ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janko Cervenski ◽  
Jelica Gvozdanovic-Varga ◽  
Svetlana Glogovac
Keyword(s):  
Plant Height ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
F1 Hybrids ◽  
Plant Weight ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Head Weight ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Head Height ◽  
Maturity Groups

In this paper we studied the variability and correlation of cabbage traits in different maturity groups. The study included early spring cabbages (planted in early spring, harvested in early summer) and autumn cabbages (planted in mid-summer, harvested in late autumn). Using coefficients of variation and correlation coefficients, we analyzed 17 cabbage traits in 35 commercially grown cultivars, F1 hybrids, and experimental F1 hybrids. The traits were analyzed separately for each maturity group. In the early cabbages, the coefficients of variation ranged from 4.8 to 44.2%. The calculated correlation coefficients differed between the two maturity groups. The early cabbages had 26 significant positive correlations. The positive correlations calculated among different traits of early cabbages defined this group fully and made it distinct from the late-maturing genotypes. Plant height and rosette diameter in the early genotypes were highly positively correlated with rosette weight, whole plant weight, head weight, usable portion of head, head height, and head diameter. Plant height and rosette diameter participate in the formation of active photosynthetic area in early cabbages. Rosette width in these genotypes provides a greater influx of light and heat, which results in greater head weight. Also, in early cabbages that have greater plant height, the leaf rosette will not lie on the cold surface of the ground in the spring. The activity of the cabbage plant is thus more focused towards the formation of larger head weight. Head volume in the late genotypes was highly positively correlated with rosette diameter, whole plant weight, head weight, usable portion of head, inner stem length, and head height. In late cabbages plant activity is directed towards the formation of head volume due to the longer duration of the growth period, larger leaves, and differences in climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Heterosis and gene action in okra

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nandan Mehta ◽  
BS Asati ◽  
SR Mamidwar
Keyword(s):  
Plant Height ◽  
Seed Weight ◽  
Gene Action ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Additive Gene Action ◽  
Fruit Length ◽  
Additive Gene ◽  
100 Seed Weight ◽  
Number Of Seeds

Forty two hybrids generated by crossing three testers with fourteen lines were studied along with parents for studying heterosis and gene action for days to first flowering, days to 50 percent flowering, fruit weight, fruit length, plant height, number of seeds per fruit, 100-seed weight and fruit yield per plant during rainy season and summer season of 2002-03 at Department of Horticulture, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. The most heterotic combinations were VRO-6 x Parbhani Kranti, VRO-4 x Parbhani Kranti, Daftari-1 x Arka Abhaya and Kaveri Selection x Ankur Abhaya for fruit yield per ptant. The sca variances for days to fruit flower, days to 50 percent flowering, fruit weight, fruit length, plant height, number of seeds per fruit and 100-seed weight were higher than so gca variance so there is a preponderance of non-additive gene action. The gca variances was greater than sca variances for fruit yield per plant indicating preponderance of additive gene action for this trait. Overall, the results discussed above are quite indicative of the fact that hybrid okra has great potentialities of maximizing fruit yield in Chhattisgarh plains.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v32i3.544Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 32(3) : 421-432, September 2007

ESTIMATION OF WILD BLUEBERRY FRUIT YIELD USING DIGITAL COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

2009 ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Q.U. Zaman ◽  
D.C. Percival ◽  
R.J. Gordon ◽  
A.W. Schumann
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Color Photography ◽  
Wild Blueberry
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