Studies on the Development of Root Vegetable Harvester (1)

Physical Properties of Root Vegetables

Abstract

The physical properties of root vegetables were investigated for the development of root vegetable harvester using three kinds of radishes and two kinds of carrots. As indexes for physical properties, the tensile strength of petioles, the bending strength of hypocotyles and the size of hypocotyles were measured. In the results of measurments, the distinct differences between the radishes and the carrots were recognized for the indexes of the physical properties. The tensile strength of petiole of radishes was distinctly smaller than the carrots. But the size of hypocotyle of radishes was distinctly larger than the carrots. It suggested that mechanisms for harvester which pulled them up on petiole were not suitable for the radishes and those which pulled them up on hypocotyle were not suitable for carrots. Those facts suggested the necessity of development of the new harvester which had some mechanics for pulling up root vegetables without holding them directly —for example, pulling up root vegetables with the around soil—.