The effect of harvesting opration on potato crop handling [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of some operational factors related to harvesting machine on damage and unlifted potato tubers. These factors included: Three different forward speed 3.02, 4.25 and 5.2 km/h, three different chain speeds 2.3,3.5 and 4.65 km/h, three different agitation throw-out zero, 1and 2 cm, three different chain inclinations 15, 20 and 25 degree, three different harvesting depths 10, 16 and 22 cm and soil moisture content 15, 20 and 25% and storage time after harvesting 0,1,2,3 and 4 week. The experiments were carried out in Nubaria location, el-Bheara Governorate in 2006. From the obtained results, it was cleared that the proper condition to operate the harvesting machine were 22 cm harvesting depths,5.2 km/h forward speed, 4.65 chain speed, zero agitation throw-out, 15% soil moisture content and primary chain inclination of 15 degree. The moisture content of potato tubers varied with storage time after harvesting.

Summary in Arabic.

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