A New Spiral Potato Cleaner to Enhance the Removal of Impurities and Soil Clods in Potato Harvesting

Abstract

Sustainability in the agricultural field suggests the conservation and maintenance of a natural environment of soil. Nevertheless, in the potato production chain, the mechanized harvest is carried out with the concurring removal of impurities and fertile soil. The authors have developed a new spiral potato cleaner which is able to capture and efficiently remove soil lumps of various sizes and shapes, as well as various plant residues. Theoretical and experimental studies have been performed on this soil clod cleaner to determine the structural and kinematic parameters that provide efficient capturing, motion and sifting down of the soil, through the gaps between the helices of its cleaning spirals. An analytical description of the motion of the clod of soil has been made and a system of differential equations has been compiled, whose numerical solution made it possible to determine the indicated reasonable operative parameters of the developed spiral potato cleaner. The results of the experimental research confirmed those ones obtained through the numerical solution of the mathematical model, i.e., rational angular speed ω of the rotation of the spirals from 20.0 to 30.0 rad s−1 and the radius R of spirals between 0.12 and 0.15 m.

Machinery for potato harvesting: a state-of-the-art review

“…Due to their heavy loam soil, the majority of research papers discuss the removal of soil clods from the harvesting process [ Bulgakov et al. (2017 ; Bulgakov et al., 2019 ; Bulgakov et al., 2020 ; Bulgakov et al., 2021 )]. The harvesting may be fully-mechanised however the removal of soil clods is still done manually which can be labor-intensive and expensive [ Bulgakov et al.…”

“…Finally, Bulgakov et al. (2017 ; Bulgakov et al., 2019 ; Bulgakov et al., 2020 ; Bulgakov et al., 2021 ) published four articles during 2017–2021 related to the use of rotary components in potato harvesting. The goal of this research was to clean the potatoes and in particular remove soil clods.…”

“…They are a fully-mechanised industry, although a significant number of the machines used to grow potatoes are imported from Russia, Belarus, and Germany [Hrushetsky et al (2019); Hrushetskyi et al (2021)]. Due to their heavy loam soil, the majority of research papers discuss the removal of soil clods from the harvesting process [Bulgakov et al (2017;Bulgakov et al, 2019;Bulgakov et al, 2020;Bulgakov et al, 2021)]. The harvesting may be fully-mechanised however the removal of soil clods is still done manually which can be labor-intensive and expensive [Bulgakov et al (2021)].…”

“…Later in 2020, Bulgakov et al (2020) implemented the spiral separator with the goal of removing more clods, soil, plant debris, and stones on the field so it is better environmentally. The spiral potato cleaner contained three cleaning spirals mounted as cantilevers.…”

Impact of Sowing Dates on the Variability of Different Traits of Fenugreek

“…Moreover, the local varieties are not yet collected and are not systematised (Bobos et al, 2019;Bobos & Kokoyko, 2013;Shelyuto, 2013;Plechishchik et al, 2010). However, the problem of the impact of the sowing time on the growth and development of the fenugreek species in order to spread this diversity of crops remains relevant (Bobos et al, 2019;Bobos & Kokoyko, 2013;Pavlista & Santra, 2016;Xalxo & Keshavkant, 2020;Bulgakov et al, 2020).…”