Thesis
Machine harvesting comparison and optimization of machine harvest intervals in fresh market blueberry
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
12/2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000000079
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125217
Abstract
Fresh market blueberry is traditionally hand harvested, which is constrained by labor costs
and shortages. Machine harvesting can alleviate labor issues but reduces fruit quality. Modifying
catcher plates inside machine harvesters is a promising approach to improve fruit quality. However, implementing new harvester technologies requires harvest timing and interval to be
optimized. The objective of Study 1 was to evaluate harvest efficiency and fruit quality using a
modified over-the-row (OTR) harvester compared to hand and traditional machine harvest
(control). The objective of Study 2 was to determine optimal harvest intervals for fresh market
blueberry harvested using a modified OTR. Experiments in Study 1 were conducted using ‘Duke’ and ‘Draper’ in 2019 and 2020. There were few differences between machine harvesting
treatments in 2019. In 2020, packout, firmness and bruising among fruit harvested using the
modified OTR were improved relative to the machine control, while reduced compared to hand
harvesting. In Study 2, ‘Liberty’ was harvested either by hand or using a modified OTR at 3-, 10-, and 14-day intervals in 2019, and at 7-, 11-, and 14-day intervals in 2020. Hand-harvested ‘Liberty’ had greater packout, firmness and less bruising. In 2019, machine harvested fruit from
the 3-day interval had greater firmness and less bruising, but lower packout and TSS/TA than
fruit from the 10- and 14-day intervals. In 2020, the 14-day machine interval resulted in poor
packout but without differences in fruit quality. Overall, our research showed the modified OTR
harvester was able to maintain an intermediate fresh market berry quality that was less than hand
harvested fruit, but greater than conventionally harvested fruit. Machine harvest interval in
northwest Washington can be extended to 10–11 days for ‘Liberty’ with a balance of fruit quality
and harvest efficiency
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Details
- Title
- Machine harvesting comparison and optimization of machine harvest intervals in fresh market blueberry
- Creators
- YIXIN CAI
- Contributors
- LISA WASKO DEVETTER (Degree Supervisor) - Washington State University, Horticulture, Department ofCAROL ANN MILES (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Horticulture, Department ofSindhuja Sankaran (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Biological Systems Engineering, Department of
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Horticulture, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 133
- Identifiers
- 99900588363801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis