Shakers Affect Florida Orange Fruit Yields and Harvesting Efficiency

Abstract

ORANGE harvesting studies were conducted with air and trunk shakers plus abscission chemicals and compared with hand harvesting from the 1979-80 through the 1984-85 seasons. These harvesting methods were also superimposed on several tree size management practices. Severe freezes occurred during four of these seasons. The air shaker reduced yields on average of 16% while the trunk shaker reduced yields an average of 5%. Harvesting efficiencies of the air and trunk shakers average 77 and 87%, respectively. Tree size management practices did not affect the fruit removal performance or harvesting efficiencies of the shakers.