Scientific and technological development of the first domestically produced serial berry harvester

The expansion of blackcurrant production was limited by the lack of machinery for cultivating and harvesting this crop. The paper presents information on the development of mechanized blackcurrant harvesting in Russia since the 1960s. (Research purpose) The study aimed to analyze the main historical stages in the development of domestic berry harvesters designed for intermittent and continuous operation and to summarize the results of their trials in order to determine the parameters of the MPYa-1 harvester. (Materials and methods) The study was based on an analysis of scientific and technical literature and reports on the mechanization of berry harvesting in the USSR in the second half of the 20th century, using historical-analytical and comparative methods. (Results and discussion) The study describes the technical features of the working components of laboratory units used to identify optimal operating modes for detaching blackcurrant berries. This made it possible to scientifically substantiate the parameters of future machines. The designs of the experimental models MYaG-000, PYaM-000, PYaM-71–73, and the first production combine harvester, MPYa-1, are analysed. The paper presents the results of state and comparative trials. It compares the performance indicators of the MPYa-1 harvester and its counterparts: the KK-1 (Bulgaria) and the Pattenden (United Kingdom), tested on the blackcurrant varieties Golubka, Bogatyr, and Pobeda. It was found that the MPYa-1 berry harvester ensured berry detachment completeness of 95.8-97.9 percent and a berry collection rate of up to 88.4 percent. The impurity content, 0.68-2.1 percent, was significantly lower than that of the British counterpart, 9.2 percent, indicating a more advanced separation system. Labour productivity increased 73-fold compared with manual harvesting. The optimal vibration parameters were determined as a frequency of 15-17 hertz and an amplitude of 20-25 millimeters, at which a gentle fruit-detachment mode was achieved. (Conclusions) The trial results confirm the high efficiency of the MPYa-1 berry harvester and the feasibility of its serial production for plantations with row spacings of 2.5-3 meters, the findings also demonstrate the effectiveness of a systematic approach to solving the problem of mechanization in horticulture.

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