Title:
Best Available Technologies for Pruning Harvesting
Author(s):
Pari, L., Suardi, A., García-Galindo, D., Bergonzoli, S., Alfano, V., Scarfone, A.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
Farmers consider pruning (branches and shoots of the fruit trees) a problem rather than an opportunity and, hence, it is unused or disposed incorrectly. However, the formulation of more strict regulations for the handling of the pruning in most European countries led to a renewed interest in pruning recovery. The harvesting stage represents a key point that influences the product quality, the type of logistic chain and the economic sustainability of the pruning supply chain and, over the years, many machine manufacturers invested in the development of dedicated implements for collecting pruning residue. Equipment able to facilitate the harvest and processing of agricultural pruning are already available in the market and many machinery builders propose different models to be adapt to various harvesting logistic chains. The purpose of this study is to provide a thorough overview of technologies available to harvest pruning, from the more basic equipment until the most integrated approach. A review of the studies available in literature for each technologies and the performance of the main European pruning harvesting machine tested have been reported. Chipper, shredder, baler and integrated pruning technologies have been described and pros and cons have been discussed. The choice of the best technology should be made on a case-by-case basis because the economic viability of recovering orchard prunings depends on how the costs of the residue are managed as well as on how the benefits are redistributed between orchard owners, harvesting contractors and biomass users. The pruning supply chain is a complex process that also involve transport, storage, handling and pretreatment. However, harvesting prunings plays a pivotal role in building a sustainable and profitable collateral production and hence it needs to be define correctly.
Keywords:
agricultural residues, harvesting, pruning, equipment
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Biomass feedstock, residues and by-products
Event:
26th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1BO.1.1
Pages:
55 - 63
ISBN:
978-88-89407-18-9
Paper DOI:
10.5071/26thEUBCE2018-1BO.1.1
Price:
FREE
