EFFECT OF HEAD-SPEED-GROUND-SPEED RATIO ON THE PICKING EFFECTIVENESS OF A LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY HARVESTER

An electro-hydraulic head-speed control system was developed and insta lled on a Bragg lowbush blueberry harvester. Factorial field experimen ts were used to collect data on picking effectiveness at head-speed-gr ound-speed ratio's (HSGSR) of 1.3, 1.5, and 1.7. Ground speeds used we re 1.6, 2.1, and 2.6 km/h. Data were collected in three fields in Colc hester County, NS in August 1991. It was found that picking losses wer e minimized to 5% of the total crop produced if a HSGSR of 1.7 was use d up to a maximum forward speed of 2.1 km/b. Berry wetness or plant he ight did not significantly affect picking effectiveness.