abstract
- In Portuguese chestnut producing regions, harvest is mostly manually. Nowadays it’s difficult to find available labour. Harvest mechanization is a solution if some difficulties of actual harvesting systems, are solved. Currently the equipment available is not completely suitable to work under high humidity conditions and high concentration of leaves and chestnut burrs, conditions that can jeopardize equipment performance. Another difficulty is pointed out by the agro-industry that complains that chestnut mechanically harvested appear with stone, branches and other materials that depreciate their value. It is important to improve harvesting procedures. Equipment performance knowledge is an important step to find solutions for problems mentioned. In 2018 harvesting season, field trials took place in a chestnut orchard in Northeast of Portugal to get information of equipment performance. This paper presents work rate preliminary results of one vacuum harvester.
- The authors want to thank to the Program PDR 2020-101-032034 ArGO 1.1 "Grupos Operacionais" for the financial support and to the G.eosil Company for the technical and logistical support.