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Evaluation of the Detachment Force Needed for Mechanical Thinning of Green Peach Fruits

Author

Listed:
  • Alberto Assirelli

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Rgricoltura e L’analisi Dell’economia Agraria (CREA)—Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, via Della Pascolare 16, 00016 Monterotondo (RM), Italy)

  • Giuseppina Caracciolo

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e L’analisi Dell’economia Agraria (CREA)—Centro di Ricerca Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura, via la Canapona 1 bis, 47121 Forlì (FC), Italy)

  • Mattia Cacchi

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e L’analisi Dell’economia Agraria (CREA)—Centro di Ricerca Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura, via la Canapona 1 bis, 47121 Forlì (FC), Italy)

  • Sandro Sirri

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e L’analisi Dell’economia Agraria (CREA)—Centro di Ricerca Olivicoltura, Frutticoltura e Agrumicoltura, via la Canapona 1 bis, 47121 Forlì (FC), Italy)

  • Federico Pallottino

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Rgricoltura e L’analisi Dell’economia Agraria (CREA)—Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, via Della Pascolare 16, 00016 Monterotondo (RM), Italy)

  • Corrado Costa

    (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Rgricoltura e L’analisi Dell’economia Agraria (CREA)—Centro di Ricerca Ingegneria e Trasformazioni Agroalimentari, via Della Pascolare 16, 00016 Monterotondo (RM), Italy)

Abstract

As a result of mechanical fruit-thinning tests on various peach trees, difficulties in fruit detachment from branches were found for some cultivars. For this reason, and to create a database of the required detachment forces, the relationship between detachment and angle at which force is applied to the fruits was studied. The study was carried out in a peach orchard sited in Forlì, on four peach cultivars when the fruits were 20–40 mm in size. Using a dynamometer, the force required to detach fruits was measured, and different angles were evaluated to simulate the various ways in which the thinner hits fruits. The analysis of the different angles showed that, on average, fruits are detached more easily if the force is applied with a 90° angle respective to the fruit position on the branch. On the other hand, if the force is applied with an angle of 0°, the average force required is three times higher. The study highlighted that adaptability to mechanical thinning is higher in some cultivars than in others. The results also showed that it is important to consider the impact angle of the thinner on fruits when evaluating the efficiency of the thinner machine.

Suggested Citation

  • Alberto Assirelli & Giuseppina Caracciolo & Mattia Cacchi & Sandro Sirri & Federico Pallottino & Corrado Costa, 2018. "Evaluation of the Detachment Force Needed for Mechanical Thinning of Green Peach Fruits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2291-:d:155861
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Federico Pallottino & Paolo Menesatti & Simone Figorilli & Francesca Antonucci & Roberto Tomasone & Andrea Colantoni & Corrado Costa, 2018. "Machine Vision Retrofit System for Mechanical Weed Control in Precision Agriculture Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-9, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rafael Goulart & Dennis Jarvis & Kerry B. Walsh, 2023. "Fruit Phantoms for Robotic Harvesting Trials—Mango Example," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-11, January.
    2. Alberto Assirelli & Elio Romano & Carlo Bisaglia & Enrico Maria Lodolini & Davide Neri & Massimo Brambilla, 2021. "Canopy Index Evaluation for Precision Management in an Intensive Olive Orchard," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-12, July.
    3. Alberto Assirelli & Giuseppina Caracciolo & Giancarlo Roccuzzo & Fiorella Stagno, 2021. "New Tools for Mechanical Thinning of Apricot Fruitlets," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-11, November.

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