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High
expenditures of manual labour, increasing wage costs and
administrative restrictions on admissions of seasonal workers
from foreign countries require comprehensive studies on adequate
mechanical harvest technique for white asparagus. |
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A possible
solution to harvest mechanically could be the non-selective
harvest. The whole ridge was cut about 4 cm above the crowns.
All spears were cut off, separated from soil during conveying on
elevator chain, and put onto soil surface or into container. The
soil separation on elevator chain is critical: exceeding soil
flow could cover the harvested spears, and not enough soil flow
could increase their damage risk.
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Asparagus ridge |
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| Mechanical
asparagus harvester – ATB’s test model for non-selective harvest of white asparagus |
Separation of
soil after cutting off the asparagus spears
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Non-selective mechanical harvest
is weekly done. The mass yield is considerably reduced, because
all spears are cut each harvest time.
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The non-selective
harvest of white asparagus could be added to manual harvest:
- to reduce high labour demands, if surplus of yield occurs
due to weathering conditions,
- to harvest mechanically on selected growing areas, if the
price is low due to surplus on market
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Before
practical use, further studies are required on growing conditions,
business management
and technology.
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