ISHS Acta Horticulturae 187: I International Symposium on Mechanization of Vegetable Production
MACHINE HARVESTING OF FRESH SPINACH |
| Author: | B. van de Weerd |
| Abstract:
In answer to requests from the industry, comparative research was carried out to find out what cutting machines were best suited for mechanizing the harvesting of fresh spinach for sale by auction. Various cutting and shearing systems were investigated and their cutting patterns studied. Harvesting by cutting was found to be a good method, particularly with a view to the intended purposes. A set of cutting and gathering equipment was specially developed from analysis of existing equipment. Using two driven swath formers, plants in the upright position can be gathered in swaths, unsoiled by contact with the ground. In order to determine the usefulness of this principle, a longstemmed and a shortstemmed strain of spinach were included in the field tests. Spinach (early type), sown at different dates, formed the harvested crop. In addition to a visual quality assessment, the yield, length of stem, working speed etc. were determined for the various cutting systems. In the tests, attention was given to the nitrate content of the harvested spinach intended for sale by auction. Growers have already successfully used in this special cutting accessory for harvesting fresh spinach and other cuttable leaf vegetables. | |
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