Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Al-Azhar University, Assiut branch
2
Department of Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
3
Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering
4
Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AEnRI), Agricultural Research Center (A.R.C.), Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
5
Water Relations & Irrigation Department, Agriculture Division, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
6
Department of Agricultural Engineering Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture & Food Systems, Lagos State, Nigeria.
7
Yellow River Delta Intelligent Agricultural Machinery Equipment Industry Academy, Dongying 257300, China, zxs@yrdia.cn (X.Z.), 17605465776@163.com (H.Y.)
Abstract
A prototype design for a palm leaflets separation machine was proposed based on the most important measured engineering properties of Siwi palm fronds. Three commercial date palm plantations randomly were selected in Assiut Governorate and the cities of Dakhla and Kharga in the New Valley Governorate. The palm plantations are called: 1. Al-Sharif farm in the Assiut Valley, New Assiut City; 2. Al-Ashwal farm in Al-Kharga city and 3. Al-Hindao farm in the Al-Dakhla city. Cultivars in the three farms were Siwi (Saidi). Field measurements were carried out during November and December 2021 and 2022 seasons. The results showed that the mass of individual fronds ranged from 2.2 to 3.27 kg with a mean value ± SD was 2.76 ± 0.23 kg. The mass of individual midrib ranged from 1.6 to 2.4 kg with a mean value of 2 ± 0.18 kg. The percentage of leaflets and midribs ranged from 25.91 to 27.52 and 72.73 to 73.39 % and the mean values were 27.49 ± 0.65 and 72.51 ± 0.18 %, respectively. Cutting force at the blade sharp 15o ranged from 191.3 to 284.35 kg, while cutting force at the blade angle 45o ranged from 328.27 to 492.6 kg. The cutting force increased by increasing the blade sharpening angle at all positions of midribs.
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