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Optimal Harvesting Schedule for a Sweeper Based Manual Nut Harvesting System

A. T. M. Ziauddin
Depanntenr of Farm Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A sweeper based Macadamia nut, (Macadamia Integrifolia) harvesting model for machine harvest was developed to determine an optimal harvesting schedule. The total cost including nut spoilage was used as optimization criterion. Nut spoilage as a function of soil moisture was modeled. Harvesting labor efficiency was related to nut density on the gourd. The optimal harvesting interval with a policy of uniform harvest interval and with a policy of non-uniform harvest interval were found to be at 30 days and 34-20-34 days, respectively.

Keywords: Nut, Hamest, Schedule, Model and System

Location: Depanntenr of Fram Power and Machinery, Bangladesh Agricultural University

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Product development

Objectives:

To develop a sweeper based manual harvesting system model.

Methodology:

Tree nuts on the ground are sometimes harvested manually. A sweeper based nut harvesting system can be represented as a process of interrelated operations. Pattern of natural fall of nut, soil moisture content, labor cost, nut spoilage, farm productivity and farm area have highly significant effects on this process. Evaluation of the overall system response to any activity of the harvesting system is very difficult to conduct without a model. The following assumptions have been made in modeling the system. (1) The effect of unfavorable weather on nut harvesting system is neglected. (2) Labor was readily available for harvest. (3) The harvesting season is approximately equally divided into three sections- early harvest, peak harvest and late harvest periods. The model consists of two major components, namely, Harvesting Cost s Sub-model and Nut Spoilage Sub-model. The total harvesting cost of the entire harvesting season is calculated by the Harvesting Cost Sub-model. The Nut Spoilage Sub-model simulates the value of total nut spoilage for the entire harvesting season. Since the total harvesting cost and the value of total nut spoilage depend on harvesting frequency, the two major components are modeled as functions of harvest interval. The overall criterion for selecting optimal harvesting schedule is defined in expression. The purpose of Harvesting Cost Sub-model is to simulate nut harvesting cost incurred at each harvest. For manual harvest, the labor represents the harvesting cost. The harvesting cost was affected by nut falling patten, harvesting interval, productivity of the farm, nut density on the ground, wage and nut price. The Nut Spoilage Sub-model simulates the amount of nut spoilage during a harvest interval. It had been observed that the soil moisture largely contributed to the quality deterioration of the nuts. In some cases, quality deterioration of nuts may also be occurred due to insect infestation. A simple nut spoilage model based on soil, moisture content was used to simulate the amount of nut spoilage. The model was coded in the BASIC language and was compiled, loaded and run on a Tandy Microcomputer.

Source of Information: Progress. Agric. 1996. 7(2),151-156, ISSN 1017-8139

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The macadamia nut harvesting system was analyzed and abstracted into an operational, flexible and general simulation model for determining the optimal harvesting pattern at a minimum cost. The results of the study indicate that the model adequately represents a sweeper based nut harvesting system. The optimal harvesting interval for manual harvest with a uniform harvesting interval was obtained at 30 days. While, the optimal harvesting pattern for manual harvest with a non-uniform harvesting interval was found at 34-20-34 days. The results of the study indicate that the optimal harvesting pattern was very sensitive to the soil moisture content, wage and market price of the nut. The accuracy of the simulated nut harvesting system performance depends a great deal on the precision and adequacy of the input data. The model did not consider the soil moisture variation due to weather (rainfall) uncertainty. However, the program is flexible enough to accommodate a subprogram for simulation of soil moisture content with weather uncertainty. Not only the harvesting system of macadamia nut but also the harvesting system of other similar tree nuts may be analyzed using the model for successful harvest operation and management with a minor modification of the model.

Knowledge Management: Journal