Articles
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TREE SYSTEM AND MACHINE FOR MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF APPLES BY THE COMBING TECHNIQUE
Article number
114_35
Pages
245 – 254
Language
Abstract
Hedgerow trees grown as ‘fruit walls’ were pruned to make them suitable for harvesting by a combing technique.
The objective was to produce long flexible branches from a main stem no more than 2 m in height.
SADH sprayed late in the growing season ensured regular fruit bud production and NAA-ethyl ester (Tre-Hold) was painted on pruning cuts to control upward growth in the tops of the trees.
Harvesting was carried out using an over the row straddle-type harvester bearing long stiff fingers covered in foam polyether.
At least 89% of Cox and 86% of Golden Delicious was harvested, but although there was little bruising, retention of the apples on the picking fingers was difficult.
The objective was to produce long flexible branches from a main stem no more than 2 m in height.
SADH sprayed late in the growing season ensured regular fruit bud production and NAA-ethyl ester (Tre-Hold) was painted on pruning cuts to control upward growth in the tops of the trees.
Harvesting was carried out using an over the row straddle-type harvester bearing long stiff fingers covered in foam polyether.
At least 89% of Cox and 86% of Golden Delicious was harvested, but although there was little bruising, retention of the apples on the picking fingers was difficult.
Authors
R.D. Child, M.J. LeFlufy
Keywords
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