Oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) growth determination system to support harvesting operation.

摘要

Oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) need to be harvested at the optimum maturity stage to optimise the quality of palm oil. Currently the oil palm harvester manually determines the FFB maturity based natural indicators such as FFB color appearance and number of FFB loose fruit drops under the tree. During executing the harvesting operation the harvester need to search for a ripe FFB and at the same time carrying the harvesting pole. Tedious harvesting operation degrades the consistency of their judgment. The harvested FFB must be screened at the oil palm mill to separate into groups of maturity level according to the standard. A computer application called Maturity Table was developed to manage the FFB maturity information in form of digital images. The development of FFB from the anthesis to harvesting stage was monitored by using a handy digital camera. The digital images of the FFB were processed by using digital image processing techniques to extract the color that represent the maturity stages. As a result from the analysed image information and tabulated data in Maturity Table, a relationship of FFB color changing and maturity stages were investigated. The processed information also enables the development of a map displaying the location of FFB and the maturity stages. The developed map can be used as a support system in harvesting operation. This support system enables site specific harvesting at optimum maturity stage, overcome losses due uncollected loose fruit, potential application to eliminate FFB screening process at oil palm mill level and potential tool to predict FFB yield as well as plantation resources management.