The Effects of Different Maturity Times of Fruit Ripening and Limb Connection Heights on the Percentages of Fruit Removal in Mechanical Harvesting of Hazelnut (Cv. Yomra)

Abstract

In this research, the effects of maturity times of fruit ripening (MTR) and limb connection heights of shaker on efficacy of eccentric type shaker which is calculated by the percentages of fruit removal (PFR) in hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) harvesting were assessed. Also, work efficiency of mechanical harvesting was evaluated. Three different timing strategies were determined for shaking and collecting the maturing hazelnuts. The first harvest time was chosen as August 28th which is indicating the approximately half of the matured hazelnuts. The second harvest time (September 7th) includes the term which nearly all the hazelnuts were matured. The natural fruit dropping time was considered as third harvest time (September 15th). Experiments were performed at four different limb connecting heights from the ground (LCH, 0.5 m, 1 m, 1.5 m and 2 m). Effects of maturity times of fruit ripening, limb connecting heights of shaker and their interactions on PFR were found significantly (P<0.01). The first harvest time (26.90%) decreased (P<0.01) the PFR as compared to the second (64.13%) and the third harvest time (69.83%). The LCH of 0.5 m (40.71%) and LCH of 1 m (43.43%) had a lower PFR value as compared to the LCH of 1.5 m (53.50%) and 2 m (57.41%). The effects of harvest times and LCH on the PFR were found to be linear (P < 0.01). The obtained results have showed that for larger orchards, the third harvest time which is used in the present study could be considered to be the best of the three ones with the LHC of 2 m.