Evaluation and Comparison of Date Palmfrond Stub cutting Methods

Takrib is defined as cutting of the date palm frond stubs. Akfa is the most conventional device used for takrib. In some cases handsaw is also used. Usage of motorized saws in some regions is recently reported. Unfortunately there is no information about performance of these devices. Therefore, this research was programmed in order to evaluate these devices performance in a randomised complete block design with three treatments namelyakfa (A), handsaw (H), and motorized saw (M) with 8 replicate on date palm C. V. “Barhee”. Results showed that the difference of operation rate, quality, and workload means in short palms (shorter than 1.5 m) were significant, and M was faster than other devices in performing of takrib operation. Operation rate in this treatment was 2.64 palm/hour (pph) and is 1.4 and 2.1 times faster than H and A respectively. Operation quality in H was better than operation quality achieved in A and M. Heart rate, which was selected as a workload criteria in H and M was in moderate level and in A was in high level. Heart rate for three treatments was 103, 122.3, and 130.1 for M, H, and A respectively. In tall palms (taller than 1.5m) operation with M in combination with traditional climbing method was impossible. The difference of operation rate means for tall palms in H and A was significant and H was 1.66 times faster than A. Operation rate in H was 1.18pph. Difference of means for heart rate and operation quality in tall palms was not significant. Economic appraisal showed that takrib operation with handsaw is more economic in date groves smaller than 10 hectare. Consequently, with respect to the current mean size of date groves in the country, which is estimated to be lower than 1 hectare, handsaw is a more suitable device. The results also showed that there is a need for new and high performance method of performing takrib operation.