Development and testing of systems for treatments in tomato greenhouses
1994
Joseph, S.
The cost of manual labor in a tomato greenhouse is approximately half of the operative cost, and operations at the plant top require more time than any other manual operation. Work efficiency with three commercial systems for plant top operation, was compared to that of a system developed at the Institute of Agricultural Engineering and to a system that operates in Holland. The Israeli and Dutch systems are self-propelled-driven electrically and equipped with automatic guidance. The study showed that for machines with manual guidance, the self-propelled system is better than that driven manually. Optimal time performance was achieved with automatic guidance and electric propelling both in Israel and in Holland. Automatic guidance allows the worker's concentration on the required operation, wastes less time and facilitates the use of separate operations. Presently, several self-propelled systems with automatic guidance are under construction. In the coming season a work study will attempt to verify the results of the present work, improve work methods and also develop the methods for utilizing mechanization while reducing labour and production costs.
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