Jatropha Harvesting. Presented by: Scott Korthuis, PE. Oxbo International Corp. web:

Transcription

1 Jatropha Harvesting Presented by: Scott Korthuis, PE Oxbo International Corp. web:

2 COMPANY OVERVIEW

3 Oxbo was formed through a merger between Byron Equipment Co. and Pixall LLC in 1998.

4 History The company s roots are linked to the development of specialized harvesters for corn, beans and peas in the 1950's and 1960's. Over the years, Oxbo's product lines have grown to wide acceptance in their markets. Integrity, Innovation and Superb Customer Service are time-tested core values of the company; these business practices have helped to secure its continuity in an ever-changing agricultural environment.

5 Our Mission Provide Innovative Solutions to Agribusiness Worldwide.

6 What we do Develop, manufacture and supply specialized agricultural equipment for niche market agribusiness worldwide. Presently, Oxbo manufactures equipment for: Berries Citrus Forage Seed Vegetables Vineyard

7 World Wide Business Oxbo currently supplies equipment worldwide to more than 28 countries, making exporting an important part of the business.

8 Current product offerings consist of over 100 models across the specialized markets we serve. SOME EXAMPLES OF CURRENT PRODUCTS

9 Pea / Lima Bean Harvesters

10 Green Bean Harvesters

11 Sweet Corn Harvesters

12 Seed Corn Harvesters

13 Berry Harvesters

14 Citrus Harvesters

15 Grape Harvesters

16 Windrow Mergers

17 THE KORVAN JATROPHA HARVESTER

18 Oxbo s Interest in Jatropha As a leader in niche market agriculture, Oxbo understands the demands of harvest Oxbo understands industries that require mechanical solutions to be viable: blueberries, raspberries, coffee, raisins, citrus The Korvan harvester line has been building over-the-row harvesters for over 20 years The Korvan 9240 offers a solution to growers who understand that mechanical harvesting of Jatropha will provide the most profitable option for this crop

19 Mechanical Harvesting Benefits Mechanically harvesting Jatropha provides several benefits Selective harvesting Continuous harvesting Control of harvesting costs Reduce labor Efficiency and reliability Harvest on demand

20 Korvan 9240 Benefits Unique selective picking system Pick only the ripe fruit Pick multiple passes Removes fruit, but gentle on plants Proven cleaning system Low maintenance On-board dump bin available Single operator design Three wheel design for stability and tight turning radius No need for large headlands

21 How to Improve Harvest Results Cultural practices Hedge and Pruning Raised beds Row spacing Headlands Plant height Plant spacing Few requirements to mechanically harvest, but paying attention to initial field set up will make harvesting easier and more efficient

22 Early Field Testing Oxbo tested several harvester models to determine the ideal solution for the industry.

23 Korvan 9240 After field testing other Korvan models, the Korvan 9240 was developed as the best fit for mechanically harvesting Jatropha. Based on the Korvan 9200 coffee harvester, the large tunnel and on-board storage make the Korvan 9240 an efficient, effective Jatropha harvester.

24 COMMON QUESTIONS REGARDING MECHANICALLY HARVESTING JATROPHA

25 HARVESTER PRODUCTIVITY

26 How many operators are needed? One for the harvester For continuous production with an over the row conveyor (OTRC), two trailer operators would be required What is harvesting speed? Approximately 1-3 kph Varies based on the crop and yield

27 How many hectares per hour can the machine harvest? Assuming 1-3kph 3m row spacing 12 hours of harvesting / day 50-60% of time for turning on end rows Harvesters can cover 0.15ha 0.6 ha / hour 2-11 ha / day An OTRC harvester would increase this amount by 10%

28 Can the harvester operate in rainy conditions? Yes, but there is a limit to how much rain The harvester can be equipped with flotation tires for growers who anticipate continuous wet harvesting conditions Positraction option should be ordered for real wet conditions Can the harvester operate at night? Yes. The machine has lights for night harvest

29 What is the maximum road speed? Maximum road speed is 15 kph A bin machine is approximately 3.2m wide Road operation, permits, and public transport laws will depend on the country

30 Can the harvester be equipped for spraying? It is possible; but, The machine is not currently designed for spraying Equipping the machine to spray would require removal of the bin (if equipped) No Do drip or micro spray irrigation systems hinder the harvester?

31 CULTURAL PRACTICES

32 What is optimum row spacing? Depends on the variety of jatropha chosen General guidelines: minimum of 3 meter spacing as plants mature, a meters for better results and easier mechanical harvesting Optimum plant spacing: meters between plants

33 What is optimum row length? The longer the row, the more efficient the harvester 1-2km row will work for continuous production with an OTRC We recommend 6-8 m headlands for turning the harvester What is maximum plant height? Ideal size is under 2.5m We have successfully harvested 3m tall plants

34 What is maximum tree diameter for mechanical harvesting? Limbs and leaves will not experience much damage from mechanical harvesting Limiting factor is the ability to get the harvester down the row We recommend plant diameter of 2m or less on 3m row spacings Row spacings of 4m will allow harvest of larger plants Yes. Is annual pruning required?

35 Is pruning of the mayor branches needed to improve harvestability? Yes; Prune and train the plants to have a single trunk and the machine will catch more fruit Single trunk should be 0.5m tall, and then branch outward Pruned in this manner, the machine will drop about 15% of the crop. A VERY clean farm will drop 10%; any figures of less than 10% droppage are untrue. Multiple trunks or limbs coming out of the ground reduce harvesting efficiency Expect to drop about 25% with multiple trunks

36 What is the estimated damage to plants from harvesting? Minimal damage We have seen some bark damage, but this has not caused any problems to date Some leaves are removed during harvest No adverse effect to plants What is the compaction effect? Heaviest tire: kg cm 2 on the ground in soft soil ~1.5 kg/cm 2

37 Are there soil requirements? We have harvested in: Fluffy soil Rocky soil Sandy soil Sand is the worst soil, especially on hills Is all wheel drive available? All wheels are mechanically driven Posi-tration is also available

38 Is weeding required prior to harvest? No Do plants need to be free from climbing weeds? Climbing weeds have not posed a problem for mechanical harvesting in other crops However, climbing weeds appear to effect plant strength

39 HARVESTER CONFIGURATION & MAINTENANCE

40 What is the side grade and up/down tilt range of the machine? Prefer less than 15% grade in the direction of travel Machine can handle 20% side grade Maximum machine range is 25% in both directions Requires optional posi-traction

41 What is weight of the machine? About kg What is the bin capacity? Around 500kg of product; 1.5m volume Bin dumps hydraulically The machine is also available with an over-the-row conveyor (OTRC) for continuous production into a tractor-towed bin or gondola. The OTRC configuration is recommended and increases efficiency up to 10%

42 What is the maximum ground clearance? About 50cm Normal operation is 20-30cm above the ground How much diesel per hour is used? Approximately 9-12 liters per hour

43 What are the maintenance costs? Initial maintenance costs are approximately $5,000USD / year As the machines age, expect $10,000 15,000 USD / year Good off season maintenance can reduce this cost What are the service intervals? Daily: Grease, wash, minor repairs & adjustments 250 hrs: Engine service 400 hrs: Hydraulic service 1000 hrs: Review all systems Good routine maintenance is key

44 Can the machine be removed from the field if it breaks down? The wheels on the harvester turn freely and it can be towed. In 20 years we have not experienced a mechanical breakdown that could not be fixed in the field/row. The engine, pumps, hubs and other major parts are easily accessible from the ground for easy routine maintenance and accessibility in the field.

45 Do special tools or spare parts required exceed normal agriculture machine shop equipment? We supply a list of recommended parts Generally no special tools are required We have sold tool kits in the past; bolts etc are not metric What is the machine warranty? Manufacturing defects are covered for 1 year or 500 hours, whichever comes first

46 What are the harvester dimensions? 3.5m wide 5.9m long 3.6m minimum height 50cm lift For more information, contact Scott at

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