Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.
2010
Volume 13
Issue 1
Topic:
Agricultural Engineering
ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Hassan-Beygi S. , Ghozhdi H. , Khazaei J. 2010. PICKING FORCE OF SAFFRON FLOWER AND SHEAR STRENGTH OF SAFFRON STALK, EJPAU 13(1), #09.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume13/issue1/abs-09.html

PICKING FORCE OF SAFFRON FLOWER AND SHEAR STRENGTH OF SAFFRON STALK

Seyed Reza Hassan-Beygi1, Hadi Vale Ghozhdi1, Javad Khazaei2
1 Department of Agrotechnology, College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering of Biosystems, College of Aboureihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

 

ABSTRACT


The shear strength and shear energy
per unit area as well as force and energy for picking of flowers are important
parameters to design and develop harvesting mechanisms. In this study shear strength
and shear energy per unit area of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stalk were
determined as a function of bevel angle and shear velocity. Also, picking force
and energy of saffron flower were determined as affected by tension velocity
and age of plant. The experiments were conducted on samples selected from fields
of Kashmar. The results showed that with an increase in bevel angle of cutting
blade from 17° to 24°, the shear strength and shear energy per stalk area increased
significantly from 0.13 to 0.19 N/mm2 and 0.305 to 0.443 mJ/mm2,
respectively. With increasing cutting rate from 20 to 200 mm/min the average
values of shear strength and shear energy per stalk area decreased significantly
in the range of 0.179 to 0.158 N/mm2 and 0.467 to 0.340 mJ/mm2,
respectively. Further increase in cutting velocity in the range of 200 to 500
mm/min was not decreased shear strength and shear energy significantly. The average
values of picking force, tensile strength and energy per unit area were increased
from 0.339 to 0.459 N, 0.169 to 0.229 MPa and 0.473 to 1.914 mJ/mm2,
respectively when tension rate increased from 50 to 500 mm/min. The age of plant
had not significant effect on picking force and energy and tensile strength.
The obtained data was useful in designing and development of saffron harvesting
mechanisms.

Key words: Saffron, harvesting, tensile strength, shear strength, picking force.


Seyed Reza Hassan-Beygi
Department of Agrotechnology,
College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

email: rhbeigi@ut.ac.ir

Hadi Vale Ghozhdi
Department of Agrotechnology,
College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran


Javad Khazaei
Department of Mechanical Engineering of Biosystems, College of Aboureihan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Telephone: 098 21 360 406 14
Cell phone: 0989123880128
email: jkhazaei@ut.ac.ir

Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed 'Discussions' and hyperlinked to the article.