Jatropha Harvesting - Oxbo International Corp builds …€¦ · · 2016-09-30Oxbo’s Interest...

Jatropha HarvestingPresented by:

Scott Korthuis, PEOxbo International Corp.

© 2010 Oxbo International Corporation. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part of this presentation is prohibited without prior written permission from Oxbo.

email: [email protected] web: www.oxbocorp.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.oxbocorp.com/

COMPANY OVERVIEW


Oxbo was formed through a merger between Byron

Equipment Co. and Pixall LLC in 1998.


History• The company’s roots are linked to the

development of specialized harvesters for corn, beans and peas in the 1950's and 1960's. Over the years, Oxbo's product lines have grown to wide acceptance in their markets.

• Integrity, Innovation and Superb Customer Service are time-tested core values of the company; these business practices have helped to secure its continuity in an ever-changing agricultural environment.


Our Mission

Provide Innovative Solutions to Agribusiness Worldwide.


What we do

Develop, manufacture and supply specialized agricultural equipment for niche market agribusiness worldwide. Presently, Oxbo manufactures equipment for:

• Berries

• Citrus• Forage• Seed

• Vegetables• Vineyard


World Wide Business

Oxbo currently supplies equipment

worldwide to more than 28 countries,

making exporting an important part of

the business.


SOME EXAMPLES OF CURRENT PRODUCTS

Current product offerings

consist of over 100 models

across the specialized

markets we serve.


Pea / Lima Bean Harvesters


Green Bean Harvesters


Sweet Corn Harvesters


Seed Corn Harvesters


Berry Harvesters


Citrus Harvesters


Grape Harvesters


Windrow Mergers


THE KORVAN JATROPHAHARVESTER


Oxbo’s Interest in Jatropha

• As a leader in niche market agriculture, Oxbo understands the demands of harvest– Oxbo understands industries that require

mechanical solutions to be viable: blueberries, raspberries, coffee, raisins, citrus

• The Korvan harvester line has been building over-the-row harvesters for over 20 years

• The Korvan 9240 offers a solution to growers who understand that mechanical harvesting of Jatropha will provide the most profitable option for this crop


Mechanical Harvesting Benefits

• Mechanically harvesting Jatropha provides several benefits

– Selective harvesting

– Continuous harvesting

– Control of harvesting costs

– Reduce labor

– Efficiency and reliability

– Harvest on demand


Korvan 9240 Benefits

• Unique selective picking system– Pick only the ripe fruit– Pick multiple passes– Removes fruit, but gentle on plants

• Proven cleaning system• Low maintenance• On-board dump bin available• Single operator design• Three wheel design for stability and tight

turning radius– No need for large headlands


How to Improve Harvest Results

• Cultural practices– Hedge and Pruning

– Raised beds

– Row spacing

– Headlands

– Plant height

– Plant spacing

• Few requirements to mechanically harvest, but paying attention to initial field set up will make harvesting easierand more efficient


Early Field TestingOxbo tested several harvester models to determine the ideal solution for the industry.


Korvan 9240After field testing other Korvan models, the Korvan 9240 was developed as the best fit for mechanically harvesting Jatropha. Based on the Korvan 9200 coffee harvester, the large tunnel and on-board storage make the Korvan 9240 an efficient, effective Jatropha harvester.


COMMON QUESTIONS REGARDING MECHANICALLY HARVESTING JATROPHA


HARVESTER PRODUCTIVITY


How many operators are needed?

• One for the harvester

• For continuous production with an over the row conveyor (OTRC), two trailer operators would be required

What is harvesting speed?

• Approximately 1-3 kph

• Varies based on the crop and yield


How many hectares per hour can the machine harvest?

• Assuming– 1-3kph– 3m row spacing– 12 hours of harvesting / day– 50-60% of time for turning on end rows

• Harvesters can cover – 0.15ha – 0.6 ha / hour– 2-11 ha / day

• An OTRC harvester would increasethis amount by 10%


Can the harvester operate in rainy conditions?

• Yes, but there is a limit to how much rain• The harvester can be equipped with flotation

tires for growers who anticipate continuous wet harvesting conditions

• Positraction option should be ordered for real wet conditions

Can the harvester operate at night?• Yes.

The machine has lights for night harvest


What is the maximum road speed?

• Maximum road speed is 15 kph• A bin machine is approximately 3.2m wide• Road operation, permits, and public transport laws

will depend on the country


Can the harvester be equipped for spraying?

• It is possible; but,• The machine is not currently designed for

spraying• Equipping the machine to spray would require

removal of the bin (if equipped)

Do drip or micro spray irrigation systems hinder the harvester?

• No


CULTURAL PRACTICES


What is optimum row spacing?

• Depends on the variety of jatropha chosen

• General guidelines:

– minimum of 3 meter spacing

– as plants mature, a 3.5 - 4 meters for better results and easier mechanical harvesting

– Optimum plant spacing: 1.0-1.5 meters between plants


What is optimum row length?• The longer the row, the more efficient the harvester• 1-2km row will work for continuous production with an

OTRC• We recommend 6-8 m headlands for turning the

harvester

What is maximum plant height?

• Ideal size is under 2.5m

• We have successfully harvested 3m tall plants


What is maximum tree diameter for mechanical harvesting?

• Limbs and leaves will not experience much damage from mechanical harvesting

• Limiting factor is the ability to get the harvester down the row– We recommend plant diameter of 2m or less on

3m row spacings

– Row spacings of 4m will allow harvest of larger plants

Is annual pruning required?• Yes.


Is pruning of the mayor branches needed to improve harvestability?• Yes; Prune and train the plants to have a

single trunk and the machine will catch more fruit– Single trunk should be 0.5m tall, and then branch

outward– Pruned in this manner, the machine will drop

about 15% of the crop.– A VERY clean farm will drop 10%; any figures of

less than 10% droppage are untrue.

• Multiple trunks or limbs coming out of the ground reduce harvesting efficiency– Expect to drop about 25%

with multiple trunks


What is the estimated damage to plants from harvesting?

• Minimal damage– We have seen some bark damage, but this has

not caused any problems to date

• Some leaves are removed during harvest– No adverse effect to plants

What is the compaction effect?

• Heaviest tire: 3.000 kg

• 2.060 cm2 on the ground in soft soil

• ~1.5 kg/cm2


Are there soil requirements?

• We have harvested in:– Fluffy soil

– Rocky soil

– Sandy soil• Sand is the worst soil, especially on hills

Is all wheel drive available?

• All wheels are mechanically driven

• Posi-tration is also available


Is weeding required prior to harvest?

• No

Do plants need to be free from climbing weeds?

• Climbing weeds have not posed a problem for mechanical harvesting in other crops

• However, climbing weeds appear to effect plant strength


HARVESTER CONFIGURATION & MAINTENANCE


What is the side grade and up/down tilt range of the

machine?

• Prefer less than 15% grade in the direction of travel

• Machine can handle 20% side grade

• Maximum machine range is 25% in both directions

– Requires optional posi-traction


What is weight of the machine?

• About 6.000 kg

What is the bin capacity?

• Around 500kg of product; 1.5m volume

• Bin dumps hydraulically

• The machine is also available with an over-the-row conveyor (OTRC) for continuous production into a tractor-towed bin or gondola.

• The OTRC configuration is recommended and increases efficiency up to 10%


What is the maximum ground clearance?

• About 50cm

• Normal operation is 20-30cm above the ground

How much diesel per hour is used?

• Approximately 9-12 liters per hour


What are the maintenance costs?• Initial maintenance costs are approximately

$5,000USD / year

• As the machines age, expect $10,000 – 15,000 USD / year

• Good off season maintenance can reduce this cost

What are the service intervals?• Daily: Grease, wash, minor repairs & adjustments

• 250 hrs: Engine service

• 400 hrs: Hydraulic service

• 1000 hrs: Review all systems

• Good routine maintenance is key


Can the machine be removed from the field if it breaks down?

• The wheels on the harvester turn freely and it can be towed.

• In 20 years we have not experienced a mechanical breakdown that could not be fixed in the field/row.

• The engine, pumps, hubs and other major parts are easily accessible from the ground for easy routine maintenance and accessibility in the field.


Do special tools or spare parts required exceed normal agriculture

machine shop equipment?

• We supply a list of recommended parts• Generally no special tools are required

– We have sold tool kits in the past; bolts etc are not metric

What is the machine warranty?

• Manufacturing defects are covered for 1 year or 500 hours, whichever comes first


What are the harvester dimensions?

• 3.5m wide

• 5.9m long

• 3.6m minimum height

• 50cm lift

For more information, contact Scott at [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]?subject=Korvan%20Jatropha%20Harvester

www.oxbocorp.com

http://www.oxbocorp.com/

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Jatropha Harvesting - Oxbo International Corp builds …€¦ · · 2016-09-30Oxbo’s Interest...

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