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Analysis of the Almond Harvesting and Hulling Mechanization Process: A Case Study

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  • Simone Pascuzzi

    (Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DiSAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
    The Authors equally contributed to the present study.)

  • Francesco Santoro

    (Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DiSAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
    The Authors equally contributed to the present study.)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is the analysis of the almond harvesting system with a very high level of mechanization frequently used in Apulia for the almond harvesting and hulling process. Several tests were carried out to assess the technical aspects related to the machinery and to the mechanized harvesting system used itself, highlighting their usefulness, limits, and compatibility within the almond cultivation sector. Almonds were very easily separated from the tree, and this circumstance considerably improved the mechanical harvesting operation efficiency even if the total time was mainly affected by the time required to manoeuvre the machine and by the following manual tree beating. The mechanical pick-up from the ground was not effective, with only 30% of the dropped almond collected, which mainly was caused by both the pick-up reel of the machine being unable to approach the almonds dropped near the base of the trunk and the surface condition of the soil being unsuitably arranged for a mechanized pick-up operation. The work times concerning the hulling and screening processes, carried out at the farm, were heavily affected by several manual operations before, during, and after the executed process; nevertheless, the plant work capability varied from 170 to 200 kg/h with two operators.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Pascuzzi & Francesco Santoro, 2017. "Analysis of the Almond Harvesting and Hulling Mechanization Process: A Case Study," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:7:y:2017:i:12:p:100-:d:121473
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simone Pascuzzi & Francesco Santoro, 2017. "Analysis of Possible Noise Reduction Arrangements inside Olive Oil Mills: A Case Study," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-12, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Simone Pascuzzi & Alexandros Sotirios Anifantis & Francesco Santoro, 2020. "The Concept of a Compact Profile Agricultural Tractor Suitable for Use on Specialised Tree Crops," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-10, April.
    2. Volodymyr Bulgakov & Simone Pascuzzi & Semjons Ivanovs & Francesco Santoro & Alexandros Sotirios Anifantis & Ievhen Ihnatiev, 2020. "Performance Assessment of Front-Mounted Beet Topper Machine for Biomass Harvesting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-12, July.
    3. Giuseppe Coppola & Michele Costantini & Luigi Orsi & Davide Facchinetti & Francesco Santoro & Domenico Pessina & Jacopo Bacenetti, 2020. "A Comparative Cost-Benefit Analysis of Conventional and Organic Hazelnuts Production Systems in Center Italy," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Volodymyr Bulgakov & Simone Pascuzzi & Semjons Ivanovs & Zinoviy Ruzhylo & Ivan Fedosiy & Francesco Santoro, 2020. "A New Spiral Potato Cleaner to Enhance the Removal of Impurities and Soil Clods in Potato Harvesting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Simone Pascuzzi & Volodymyr Bulgakov & Francesco Santoro & Alexandros Sotirios Anifantis & Semjons Ivanovs & Ivan Holovach, 2020. "A Study on the Drift of Spray Droplets Dipped in Airflows with Different Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Volodymyr Bulgakov & Simone Pascuzzi & Valerii Adamchuk & Jaroslav Gadzalo & Volodymyr Nadykto & Jüri Olt & Janusz Nowak & Viktor Kaminskiy, 2022. "Dynamics of Temperature Variation in Soil under Fallow Tillage at Different Depths," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-12, March.
    7. Andrea Colantoni & Danilo Monarca & Vincenzo Laurendi & Mauro Villarini & Filippo Gambella & Massimo Cecchini, 2018. "Smart Machines, Remote Sensing, Precision Farming, Processes, Mechatronic, Materials and Policies for Safety and Health Aspects," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-11, March.
    8. Emanuele Cerruto & Giuseppe Manetto & Francesco Santoro & Simone Pascuzzi, 2018. "Operator Dermal Exposure to Pesticides in Tomato and Strawberry Greenhouses from Hand-Held Sprayers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-21, July.
    9. Volodymyr Bulgakov & Simone Pascuzzi & Francesco Santoro & Alexandros Sotirios Anifantis, 2018. "Mathematical Model of the Plane-Parallel Movement of the Self-Propelled Root-Harvesting Machine," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-11, October.
    10. Alexandros Sotirios Anifantis & Andrea Colantoni & Simone Pascuzzi & Francesco Santoro, 2018. "Photovoltaic and Hydrogen Plant Integrated with a Gas Heat Pump for Greenhouse Heating: A Mathematical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-12, February.
    11. Francesco Santoro & Alexandros Sotirios Anifantis & Giuseppe Ruggiero & Vladislav Zavadskiy & Simone Pascuzzi, 2019. "Lightning Protection Systems Suitable for Stables: A Case Study," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-7, April.

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