Evaluation of Shake-and-Catch Mechanism in Mechanical Harvesting of Apples

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 1257-1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaochun Ma ◽  
Manoj Karkee ◽  
Han Fu ◽  
Daozong Sun ◽  
Qin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Fluidized Bed ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Air Pressure ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Apple Varieties ◽  
Air Suspension ◽  
Important Barrier ◽  
Catch Mechanism

Abstract. Damaged fruit is the most important barrier to success in the mechanical harvesting of fresh market apples using mass harvesting methods. To address fruit quality issues and expedite the commercialization of mechanical harvesting of fresh market apples, an innovative air suspension-based catching (ASC) mechanism was designed and fabricated to collect fruit detached with a mechanical shaking device (tree limb shaker). The objective of this study was to evaluate the shake-and-catch mechanism in mechanical harvesting of apples. Three apple varieties with different physical characteristics (‘Honeycrisp’, ‘Pacific Rose’, and ‘Pink Lady’) were used in the field trials. The air pressure settings for the ASC mechanism played an important role in reducing the risk of apple damage and improving fruit quality. The effect of the shaking frequency of the tree limb shaker on fruit quality was not significant. When the air pressure increased from 0 to 1030 kPa, the fruit quality greatly improved. Keywords: Air pressure, Air suspension-based catching mechanism, Fluidized bed technology, Fresh market apples, Fruit quality, Mass harvesting, Shaking efficiency.

scholarly journals Optimizing anaerobic soil disinfestation for fresh market tomato production: Nematode and weed control, yield, and fruit quality

2017 ◽  
Vol 218 ◽  
pp. 105-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haichao Guo ◽  
Francesco Di Gioia ◽  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Monica Ozores-Hampton ◽  
Marilyn E. Swisher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Soil Disinfestation ◽  
Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation

scholarly journals Economics of a Hairy Vetch Mulch System for Producing Fresh-market Tomatoes in the Mid-Atlantic Region

1995 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 854-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry C. Kelly' ◽  
Yao-Chi Lu ◽  
Aref A. Abdul-Baki ◽  
John R. Teasdale
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Organic Mulch ◽  
Budget Analysis ◽  
Tomato Field

Concern for the environment has focussed attention on the need for environmentally sound, yet economically profitable, farming practices. A hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L. Roth.) organic mulch system for fresh-market tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) production provides environmental benefits by enhancing the soil and reducing the need for fertilizer and herbicide inputs and is more profitable than conventional practices. Tomato field trials over 3 years at the Beltsville (Md.) Agricultural Research Center compared the hairy vetch mulch system with black polyethylene mulch and bare ground (no mulch). Using partial budget analysis in a farm context, the hairy vetch mulch treatment was more profitable in all years under all market and yield adjustment scenarios. The vetch mulch system also was the preferred system for a risk-averse grower, according to a safety-first criterion. The combination of environmental benefits and the economic benefits to the grower make the hairy vetch mulch system an attractive alternative for producing fresh-market tomatoes in the Mid-Atlantic and parts of northeastern United States.

A Precision Pruning Strategy for Improving Efficiency of Vibratory Mechanical Harvesting of Apples

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1565-1576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Zhang ◽  
Long He ◽  
Yaqoob Majeed ◽  
Matthew David Whiting ◽  
Manoj Karkee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Fruit Removal ◽  
Vibratory System ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Labor Requirements ◽  
Lateral Branches ◽  
Canopy Management

Abstract. The state of Washington is the biggest fresh market apple ( Borkh.) producer in the U.S., and the state’s annual apple production has exceeded 60% of the national production. Due to the extensive labor requirements for harvesting fresh market apples, there is burgeoning demand for mechanical harvest solutions. Our transdisciplinary studies on mechanical harvest systems for apples have shown that fruit removal efficiency (FRE) with a vibratory system can be improved with precision canopy management. In this study, we evaluated the effect of precision pruning strategies on FRE in two groups (106 and 107, respectively) of randomly selected horizontal branches of ‘Jazz/M.9’ apple trees in a commercial orchard. Fruiting lateral branches were pruned to either shorter than 15 cm (guideline 1, G1) or 23 cm (guideline 2, G2). Harvest tests were conducted using a shake-and-catch harvester prototype developed by Washington State University with a fixed vibrating frequency of 20 Hz and shaking duration of 5 s. FRE for branches treated with G1 was significantly higher (91%) than FRE for branches treated with G2 (81%). We recorded a negative relationship between FRE and lateral shoot length. FRE was up to 98% when shoots were shorter than 5 cm, and FRE was only 56% for shoots of 25 cm or longer. We developed a shoot diameter-to-length index (S-index) to better understand the effect of shoot size on FRE. FRE was as high as 98% when the S-index was greater than 0.15. In addition, mechanically harvested fruit quality was assessed by categorizing the fruit into Extra Fancy, Fancy, and Downgrade fresh market classes based on USDA standards; however, no significant difference was found between the two treated groups. These results suggest that pruning lateral fruiting branches to less than 15 cm or to an S-index greater than 0.03 is required to achieve FRE of 85% with no negative impacts on fruit quality. Keywords: Canopy management, Fresh market fruit, Fruit removal efficiency, Mechanical harvest, Shoot pruning severity.

scholarly journals Effect of Metaxenia on the Fruit Quality of Scab Resistant Apple Varieties

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 151-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madalina Militaru ◽  
Madalina Butac ◽  
Dorin Sumedrea ◽  
Emil Chiţu
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Apple Varieties

scholarly journals Blueberry Producers’ Attitudes toward Harvest Mechanization for Fresh Market

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Karina Gallardo ◽  
Eric T. Stafne ◽  
Lisa Wasko DeVetter ◽  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Charlie Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The United States ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Agricultural Labor ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Specialty Crop

The availability and cost of agricultural labor is constraining the specialty crop industry throughout the United States. Most soft fruits destined for the fresh market are fragile and are usually hand harvested to maintain optimal quality and postharvest longevity. However, because of labor shortages, machine harvest options are being explored out of necessity. A survey on machine harvest of blueberries (Vaccinium sp.) for fresh market was conducted in 2015 and 2016 in seven U.S. states and one Canadian province. Survey respondents totaled 223 blueberry producers of various production sizes and scope. A majority (61%) indicated that their berries were destined for fresh markets with 33% machine harvested for this purpose. Eighty percent said that they thought fruit quality was the limiting factor for machine-harvested blueberries destined for fresh markets. Many producers had used mechanized harvesters, but their experience varied greatly. Just less than half (47%) used mechanical harvesters for fewer than 5 years. Most respondents indicated that labor was a primary concern, as well as competing markets and weather. New technologies that reduce harvesting constraints, such as improvements to harvest machinery and packing lines, were of interest to most respondents. Forty-five percent stated they would be interested in using a modified harvest-aid platform with handheld shaking devices if it is viable (i.e., fruit quality and picking efficiency is maintained and the practice is cost effective). Overall, the survey showed that blueberry producers have great concerns with labor costs and availability and are open to exploring mechanization as a way to mitigate the need for hand-harvest labor.

Air-Suspension Fluidized-Bed Microencapsulation of Probiotics

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (16) ◽  
pp. 1918-1930 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Semyonov ◽  
Ory Ramon ◽  
Amir Kovacs ◽  
Lilach Friedlander ◽  
Eyal Shimoni
Keyword(s):  
Fluidized Bed ◽  
Air Suspension

scholarly journals Effects of Machine-Harvest Interval on Fruit Quality of Fresh Market Northern Highbush Blueberry

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Yixin Cai ◽  
Fumiomi Takeda ◽  
Brian Foote ◽  
Lisa Wasko DeVetter
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Harvest Intervals ◽  
Northern Highbush Blueberry

Machine harvesting blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) alleviates labor costs and shortages but can reduce fruit quality. Installation of softer catching surfaces inside modified over-the-row harvesters (modified OTR) and adjusting harvest intervals may improve fruit quality and packout. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of harvest interval on fruit quality of fresh market northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) harvested using a modified OTR. ‘Liberty’ blueberry bushes were harvested by hand or using a modified OTR at 3-, 10-, and 14-day intervals in 2019 and at 7-, 11-, and 14-day intervals in 2020. Hand-harvested ‘Liberty’ had greater packout and firmness than machine-harvested fruit. Machine harvesting at the 3-day interval in 2019, and the 14-day interval in 2020 reduced packout from 70–80% to 60% and 54%, respectively. In 2019, machine harvesting at a 3-day interval overall resulted in fruit with greater firmness, higher titratable acidity (TA), and lower total soluble solids (TSS) and SS/TA, compared to other harvest intervals. In 2020, the 7-day machine-harvest interval had a greater TA and lower TSS/TA, compared to the 11- and 14-day intervals. Overall, modified OTR machine-harvest intervals can be extended to 10–11 days for fresh market northern highbush cultivars such as ‘Liberty’ grown in northwest Washington.

scholarly journals Fruit quality in diploid, triploid, scab immune and columnar apple varieties

2018 ◽  
pp. 32-37
Author(s):  
E.N. Sedov ◽  
◽  
Z.M. Serova ◽  
M.A. Makarkina ◽  
T.V. Yanchuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Apple Varieties
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