Experimental studies of pruning the haulm of chicory root tops

Abstract

Chicory roots are a valuable technical and strategically important crop for the leading sectors of the Ukrainian economy. The processing of raw materials from chicory roots allows to obtain energy (biofuel), food (coffee) and pharmaceutical (inulin) products. The low level of mechanization of harvesting chicory root crops (significant losses, damage) does not allow to meet the needs of raw materials for its processing. The purpose of the study is to increase the quality indicators of the cutting of burdock from the heads of root crops by substantiating the rational parameters of the working organs of the improved trimmer. According to the results of field experimental studies, regression equations were obtained that describe the functional change in the number of chicory root crops that have fallen from the ground and the number of damaged root crops depending on the speed of the copier, the stiffness coefficient of the spring of the vertical thrust of the copier and the angle of installation of the copier relative to the horizon. The following values of the rational parameters of the trimmer were obtained: speed of movement of the trimmer 1.6...1.8 m/s; the weight of the moving parts of the cutter is 6...7 kg; the angle of installation of the copier relative to the horizontal plane is 30...35 degrees, the stiffness coefficient of the spring of the copier's vertical thrust cup is up to 45 N/m.