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Introduction
The growth of horticultural crops in India during the last two decades is increasing at an alarming rate. It covers about 12 million-ha area and contribute about 18.8% of the gross domestic product with 15.5% of the total agricultural export. India has emerged as the second largest producer of the fruits and vegetables after Brazil and China. Gujarat play a prominent role in horticultural production and produce about 2289.47 thousand metric tons of fruits (mango, sapota, kagzi-lime, banana, papaya, coconut, pomegranate and date palm) annually from an area of 176.70 thousand ha. The harvesting of fruits is done manually which is very labour intensive, time consuming and tedious. Mechanization in fruit crop cultivation is at very low level. The farmers generally use traditional hand tools for harvesting the fruits. Traditional tools result in high harvest losses due to low efficiency and energy intensive in operation. Unavailability coupled with high cost of human labour during the peak period adds another dimension to fruit growers.
In Gujarat, about 2,85,285 metric tons of lime is produced annually over an area of 27,931 hectares. Harvesting of lime fruits is one of the important operations carried out using manually operated inefficient traditional devices or by shaking the tree branches and then collecting the fruits from the ground surface. Thus, lime fruits get damaged when they fall on the ground surface. Also it is difficult to collect the fruits fallen on the ground surface because of narrow clearance between the branches and ground surface. If lemon fruits are directly collected from the tree by hand picking, then problem of pinching of plant thorns to the human body particularly to fingers and hands arises. Hence, keeping above facts in view the development of lime harvesting device was necessary.
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Materials and Methods
2.1. Design of lime harvester device
The lime harvester devices were designed and developed at the Research, Testing and Training Centre (RTTC) and tested at Madhadibaugh farm, Department of Horticulture, JAU, Junagadh (Gujarat).
Initially, survey was done to collect the data regarding traditional kagzilime fruit harvesting device adopted by the farmers (Plate 1). The age of the plantation at selected farm was 15 years. The information of kagzilime plant like, plant height, canopy radius and planting distance were collected and are shown in Table 1.
In the traditional device, a simple half circular hook of GI wire is made and fitted to one end of the wooden handle. While harvesting the lime, the handle with hook is penetrated up to the location of the fruit in the canopy, brought inside the half circular of the hook, then the handle is pulled. The fruit falls by gravity on the ground surface within or outside the canopy. This traditional method causes damage to the fruit. Operator faces difficulty in collecting the fallen fruits from the ground due to narrow spacing between the branches and ground surface. Pinching of plant thorns to the operator is the main problem when the fruits are being handpicked from inner side of the plant canopy. Hand picking is rather difficult and inefficient operation. After considering the collected information and problems faced for harvesting lime fruit, the manually operated device was developed (Plate 2) and tested. The required modifications were made consequently by stage I to IV as shown in Figure 1. Finally the reported device was developed and tested at field. The developed lime harvester contains fruit catching unit, fruit collection mouth, conveyance pipe and collection chamber.
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Results and Discussion
After making required corrections at stage-I to stage-IV, finally the performance of the device developed at stage IV was found satisfactory. Five replications in terms of the changed trees were taken into account. The observations like number of fruits harvested, number of fruits missed and fall on the ground surface, number of immature fruit fall on the ground surface, time to unload the device, reset time and weight of fruit harvested were noted. The performance evaluation of the JAU–Lime harvester and traditional harvester are presented in Table 2-5.
The problems faced with the traditional tool for lime fruit harvesting are alleviated in the JAU–Lime harvester by providing catching unit, fruit collecting mouth and conveyance pipe which reduces losses in terms of immature lime fall out and spoilage. It was compared with the traditional one in terms of number of fruits harvested per unit time, spoilage and immature fruit losses during harvesting.
The average fruit harvesting capacity was recorded as 6.85 kg hr-1 and 7.83 kg hr-1 for JAU–Lime harvester and traditional harvester as shown in Table 6.
The collected fruits were kept in same environment for 11 days to find the number of fruits spoiled. It was observed that up to 8th day after harvesting, no spoilage was recorded in the lime harvested by JAU-Lime harvester. It was also recorded that after 11 days, nearly 36.67% of limes were spoiled from the lots which were harvested by the traditional harvester. This is mainly due to the impact force given to the fruit at the time of harvesting (Table 7).
On the eleventh day, 13.33% fruits were spoiled from lots which were harvested by JAU–Lime harvester. Average fruit spoilage was observed to be 15.45 and 2.12% in traditional harvester and JAU–Lime harvester, respectively. Harvesting of kinnow fruit from traditional method leads to damage of 8.80% (Chaudhary et al., 2019). Similar type of work has also been done by Wade (2010) and Sabale et al. (2016) in guava and oranges. It was also observed that due to pulling effect, an average 3.84% immature fruits fall on the ground surface while harvesting by traditional harvester compared to 1.37% in case of JAU–Lime harvester as shown in Table 8.
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Conclusion
Result revealed that JAU–Lime harvester reduced the per cent of immature fruit fall on the ground surface and spoilage of the lime. Therefore, the farmers having kagzilime orchards are advised to use the JAU–Lime harvester to reduce losses like spoilage and immature lime fall-up.
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Plate 1. Traditional lime harvesting device
Table 1: Characteristics of kagzilime tree
Plate 2. Initially developed lime harvesting device
Figure 1 : Design drawing of JAU-Lime Harvester (Stage-I to IV)
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 1 : Continue..
Figure 2: Sectional view of JAU-Lime Harvester
Table 2: Performance Evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set -1)
Table 2: Continue...
Table 3: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-1)
Table 4: Performance evaluation of JAU–Lime Harvester (Set-2)
Table 4: Continue...
Table 5: Performance evaluation of traditional harvester (Set-2)
Table 6: Effect of method of harvesting on harvesting capacity of lime harvester
Table 7: Effect of harvesting method on spoilage of fruit (Sample size: 15)
Table 8. Effect of harvesting method on immature fruit loss
Cite
Vagadia VR, Mashru HH, Rank HD, Prajapati GV, Satasiya RM, /> RS. Development and Performance Evaluation of Lime Harvesting Device IJEP [Internet]. 02May.2020[cited 8Feb.2022];7(1):080-085. Available from: http://www.pphouse.org/ijep-article-details.php?art=236
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