The influence of vibration applied to the trunk and to the branches of different sized olive trees on the efficiency of mechanical harvesting.

摘要

A shaker of average power was applied to the trunk and the branches of olive trees of the Leccino cultivar, of different ages and sizes, in Italy, to verify its efficiency on fruit removal and the time needed to carry out the operation. The fruit was harvested during the early part of the optimal period, when the fruits showed a weight of 3.2-3.6 g and a detachment force higher than 6 N. On young trees with canopies of 28 m3, there was 85% fruit removal with vibration applied to the trunk for 80 seconds. On larger trees with canopies of 44 m3, there was 74.4% fruit removal with vibration applied to the trunk for about the same length of time. On adult trees with shaker application to the main branches showing single volumes of 19 m3, there was 78% fruit removal and the shaker was used on each tree for 235 seconds. The shaker, due to its manageability and hook on the main branches, also showed efficient fruit removal on old trees, which are normally difficult to manage. However, it may be opportune to have trees with a single trunk and a medium canopy volume of 20-40 m3, where it would be possible to mechanize the product interception. This would largely reduce manual labour and production costs, preserving the oil quality.