科研之友
微信
新浪微博
Facebook
分享链接
摘要
Roselle calyces, which are the consumable commercial part of the plant, are mainly hand-harvested in Mexico. Harvesting machines use an electric or gasoline motor to turn rollers that pull in branches full of roselle flowers; electric motors are cleaner and reduce calyx pollution. Water squeezed from the branches as they pass through the harvester reduces traction on the rubber-coated rollers. Geared rollers with Nylamid teeth were designed, manufactured, and installed in a roselle harvester so that water extracted from the branches could run off through the roller grooves. Four 23-tooth Nylamid rollers were evaluated for an increase in harvest productivity over 18-tooth rollers. Productivity reached 64.8 kg h(-1) for variety Nayarit and 62.9 kg h(-1) for variety Sudan. Calyx quality during harvest was better with 23-tooth rollers, with no calyx damage for variety Nayarit. Varieties White Sudan and Colima 5 detached perfectly dry capsules from calyces using 23-tooth rollers. The force exerted by the rollers to pull the branch was measured and reached 323 N for 3.7 cm thick branches. Branch water loss accounted for 2 to 4 g depending on branch thickness.
- 出版日期2016
