Operational performance of the mechanized picking of coffee in four soil slope

Abstract

The coffee mechanized picking is an essential operation in modern coffee crop, however, is still an activity with few studies that emphasize the factors that could interfere in its operational performance. Assuming that the slope of the land can be one of these factors, it aimed to evaluate operational performance of a mechanized set of coffee picking in different terrain slopes. The treatments consisted of coffee mechanized picking in four slope lanes (0.0 to 5.0%, 5.1 to 10.0%, 10.1 to 15.0 and 15.1% to 20.0%) distributed in experimental design in lanes with three replications. The evaluation of the operational performance was materialized by means of timing and movements' analysis, collecting up time in operation, unloading and maneuvering, as well as efficiencies analysis of picking and cleaning. The operation was performed in crop with 1.133 kg of coconut coffee ha -1 to be picked. The slope of the land, from 15.1%, interferes in the performance of the harvester, significantly reducing the effective and operational field capacity. Slopes of up to 20% do not harm the cleaning efficiency; on the other hand, for picking efficiency, slopes higher than 15% significantly reduce the performance of the machines.