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The Brazilian peanut harvest has become fully mechanized and is divided into two operations: digging and gathering. Nerveless, in both operations, it can be found losses, and it could avoid doing machine maintenance adequate. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and quantify the interference of the harvesting period (morning, afternoon, and night) and the wear of the digging-shaking-inverter mechanism (blades) in the loss indexes in the digging operation. The experiment was carried out in a commercial field. Worn and new blades were used to dig peanuts at three different periods of the day. Losses were quantified by collecting 20 points separated by 20 m for each treatment. The experimental design was in bands using a factorial 3x2 analysis, was three shifts of digging and two blades wear condition. Digging with worn blades increased the losses in the three different periods compared to using new blades, and the farmers can increase profit by 22% by reducing the digging losses. Brazilian peanut harvests have been fully mechanized and are divided into two operations, namely digging and gathering. In both operations, losses are observed, and it is essential to avoid losses to maintain adequate machine maintenance. In this study, we aimed to quantify the interference of the harvesting period (morning, afternoon, and night) and wear of the digger-inverter mechanism (blades) on the loss indexes during the dig operation. The experiment was conducted in a commercial field using worn and new blades to dig peanuts at three different periods of the day. Losses were quantified by measuring data at 20 points, which were separated by 20 m for each treatment. The shift work did not interfere with peanut losses. However, the blade condition exhibited a strong influence on increasing the losses. Peanut growers can increase profits by up to 22% by reducing digging losses solely by periodically changing blades.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T17:39:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-08-06 With advancements in the mechanisation of sugarcane farming, studies have been fundamental to improving the process-from soil preparation to harvest. Faced with increasing challenges of economic scenarios, alternatives should be sought aimed at optimising resources, reducing costs, improving operational efficiency, logistics, among others. Planting is one of the main agricultural operations, any deviation in this phase harms the crop during the crop cycle, so planning in advance the area to be planted is essential for better results. Analysis of better planting scenarios prior to harvest combined with the use of autopilot requires knowledge of the systematisation areas and skilled labour to guarantee the quality of the process and reduce losses and damages. The objective of this study is to both evaluate and optimise sugarcane planting scenarios based on travel and manoeuvre time, travel distance, number of manoeuvres, and fuel consumption. The study was conducted in the municipality of Tanabi, SP, during the 2013 planting season. The results showed fewer manoeuvres and longer planting lines in the optimised area, increased the availability of the machine and generated possible cost reduction. Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Engn & Exact Sci, Lab Agr Machinery & Mechanizat, Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Engn & Exact Sci, Lab Agr Machinery & Mechanizat, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T20:02:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01 Aim of study: Unavailability, coupled with the burden of labor for agricultural services nowadays, has made the mechanization process of harvesting of fallen coffee (Coffea arabica L.) essential. Although this operation has essential importance, it is often not monitored and executed in search of extreme quality. Considering the search for higher profits, this study aimed to analyze the performance of a coffee picker in three passes in an area in order to collect and process all the material and its economic viability. Area of study: The experiment was carried out in July 2017 in the Brazilian Cerrado, in the municipality of Presidente Olegario, Minas Gerais, Brazil, at Fazenda Gaucha/Cafe. Material and methods: The amount of gathered coffee was equivalent to 600 kg ha(-1) of processed coffee. The data from 2017 were used to analyze the economic viability of the picking operation. Treatments were distributed in split-blocks with three passes of the picking machine. The analyzed variables were picking and cleaning efficiency, picking losses, and percentage of vegetal and mineral impurities. Main results: Coffee losses reached the minimum level in the third pass. However, the harvesting operation could be carried out at most twice in the same area from the economic point of view under the evaluated conditions. Research highlights: Mechanized picking of coffee can be performed at most twice in the same area, providing a positive economic return. Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Rural Engn, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Fac Doutor Francisco Maeda FAFRAM, Ituverava, SP, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Rural Engn, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-11T09:37:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T14:37:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0100-69162020000100053.pdf: 1205319 bytes, checksum: e08f90e6aaee902fd4ab5b330b6056a0 (MD5) Sugarcane harvester cutting blade wear increases ratoon damages and losses, impairing sugarcane regrowth. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of basal cut using ratoon damage and loss indexes and correlating them with effects on sugarcane regrowth. Harvest parameters such as plant height and position, damage and loss indexes, and stem length were evaluated every 30 min, following statistical process control (SPC) assumptions. Blade wear was examined during three harvesting shifts (0-8 h, 8-16 h, and 16-24 h). Sugarcane regrowth was assessed by counting number of tillers and measuring plant height and stem diameter. The second harvesting shift showed better quality in terms of damage and loss indexes, and plant height and stem diameter. Harvesting was considered out of control for parameters such as cutting height, number of tillers, plant height, and stem diameter. On the other side, it was regarded as under control for damage and loss indexes, and plant high and position. The first shift presented peripheral or no damages and weak to medium loss levels, whereas the second and third ones showed extreme damages and medium to strong losses. Univ Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil

The tools of precision agriculture are of utmost importance in the Brazilian agribusiness, enabling increases in yields and reducing production costs. The use of harvest monitoring systems makes it possible due the possibility to identify pontual problems in an area, however, it becomes necessary to be working properly so it does not acquire incorrect information. Therefore, the purpose with this study was to propose a new approach to identify discrepant points in harvesting maps using statistical process control, as well as to define the best multiple of the standard deviation to identificate these points. The work was conducted during the soybean harvesting at São Geronimo farm in an area of 38 hectares in the municipality of Candido Mota, located in the the state of São Paulo. For gathering information, it was used a Stara crop monitoring system (model Topper Maps) set to record information during harvest in each three second. The productivity data were used to generate an individual control chart to identify points that were out of control so they could be removed. Two standard deviation multiples, that presented an average productivity closer to the average real productivity of the area, were selected. The multiples of the deviations that came closest were the 2σ and 3σ. Two multiples of standard deviation presented an average yield closer to the average real yield of the area. Individual control charts can be used to set control limits and identify possible discrepancies. The multiple of standard deviation 3σ presented information with greater reliability.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-06T07:12:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-07-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T14:35:25Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0100-69162019000400498.pdf: 1367461 bytes, checksum: 95e750a215e0df01235cedb7ac4ad233 (MD5) The mechanized harvesting of sugarcane has increased exponentially in recent years because of the gradual prohibition of burning on the cane fields in mechanizable and non-mechanizable areas. This study aimed to evaluate the wear of the basal cutting knives in two different mechanized sugarcane harvesters, through statistical process control. The experiment was conducted in Cravinhos, Sao Paulo, in an agricultural area, on July 25, 26, and 27, 2016. Two harvesters with different basal cutting mechanisms were evaluated: harvester A-Model BE1035e (conventional type knife), and harvester B-Model A8800 (racket type knife). The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments. The wear was quantified by measuring the thickness increase and width losses of each knife, and it was evaluated for each harvester every 2 hours, during 3 days of operation. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and statistical process control. The harvester B model (racket knife) presented lower variability in the cutting width and stability in the cutting width of the knives. The harvester A model (conventional knife) presented greater wear in the width, but less variability in the thickness of the cutting wire. Univ Sorocaba, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Buri, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil