Abstract
Automatic harvesting is a mandatory feature of modern upland crop harvesters, and proper knowledge about the targeted crop properties is essential for designing the relevant components as well as conducting field operations. The objective of the study was to investigate the physical and strength properties of radish and Chinese cabbage for automatic harvesting. Fifteen radishes and Chinese cabbages were used for the experiment. Mass, height, width, diameter, length of root and stem, and cutting diameter were measured using a digital weighing balance, digital caliper, and ruler. Density was calculated using the obtained physical data of radish and Chinese cabbage. Universal Testing Machine attached with a 500 N load cell and circular combined blade were used to measure possible compression force. The strength was calculated and different results of radish and Chinese cabbage were plotted. Average mass, height, width, diameter, length of root and stem, and density for radish and Chinese cabbage were 1.52 and 1.33 kg, 213.33 and 311.87 mm, 109.40 and 129 mm, 104.60 and 154.87 mm, 115 and 11.33 mm, 172.60 and 401.33 mm, and 543.01 and 217.20 kg/m3, respectively. The stem and root cutting diameter and compressive strength of radish and Chinese cabbages were 27.01 and 24.29 mm, and 0.07 and 0.14 N/mm2, respectively. As these physical properties directly affect the automatic harvesting and conveying performance, the results of this study would provide useful information for designing the relevant components of modern upland crop harvesters and increasing the harvesting performance.
Figures & Tables
Fig. 1.Physical dimensions of radish. (A) bulb diameter, (B) bulb height, (C) length of root, (D) stem diameter, (E) length of stem.
