ISHS Acta Horticulturae 210: Controlled Traffic Cropping Systems for Management of Soil Compaction, XXII IHC
STRADDLE VEHICLES FOR HORTICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION - A REVIEW |
| Authors: | C.E. Hood, R.E. Williamson, T.R. Garrett, R.E. Young |
| Abstract:
Current crop-production schemes fail to offer reduced costs, increased yields, and improved product quality that could be derived from controlled-traffic farming techniques utilizing multi-purpose straddle vehicles. This paper reviews straddle vehicles that have been developed for performing major field operations using controlled-traffic schemes that have potential for horticultural-crop applications. Vehicles are discussed that serve as harvest-aids and, in some cases, field packing-aids for horticultural crops with little attention given to controlled-traffic production patterns. Vegetable production vehicles were found to be widely used for harvest-aid and field-packing operations. Overhead irrigation frames have been modified to allow workers to walk behind and pick fruit onto elevating conveyors. Straddle vehicles for tree fruit and nursery crops perform functions such as harvesting, mowing, spraying, pruning, and pollinating. Nursery-crop applications center around harvesting, handling, spraying, and pruning containerized plants. A multi-purpose, 3-m span experimental vegetable production machine for small- and intermediate-sized farmers is currently being researched. The system utilizes a retrofit tobacco harvester vehicle which accommodates conventional implements for planting, cultivating, spraying, and harvesting using 1.5-m spaced beds. Preliminary performance tests of the vehicle show technical and economic potential. | |
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