Design of Lavender Harvesting Machine and Development of Prototype

Year 2025, Volume: 22 Issue: 4, 880 - 895, 03.10.2025

Mehmet Emin Gökduman , Deniz Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.33462/jotaf.1505712

Abstract

The growing demand for medicinal and aromatic plants, particularly lavender, in both domestic and global agricultural markets underscore the increasing importance of lavender cultivation. This surge in demand has driven the need for technological advancements and agricultural innovations to increase the productivity and efficiency of lavender cultivation. In Turkey, lavender harvesting relies predominantly on manual labor, highlighting the need to implement mechanized harvesting methods to increase commercial productivity and reduce labor costs.
This study aimed to address the challenge of mechanization in lavender cultivation by developing a prototype lavender harvesting machine. The machine was specifically designed to accommodate the unique characteristics of lavender plants and the terrain in which they are grown. The process began with identifying the functional units required for the machine, followed by the creation of detailed design drawings before moving on to the manufacturing phase.
Once the harvester was manufactured, performance tests were conducted under actual field conditions to evaluate its operational efficiency. The primary focus of the evaluation was on the machine's cutting and bundling capabilities, which are critical to effective lavender harvesting. The results of these tests were promising, with an average cutting efficiency of 95.2% and an average tying efficiency of 68.0%.
In addition, the experimental trials demonstrated that the harvested lavender could be efficiently transferred to either a trailer or the field surface using a conveyor belt system after cutting. However, the study also showed that there is room for improvement, particularly in the binding process. Research into alternative binding mechanisms and improvements to the overall performance of the machine are essential steps needed to increase the efficiency of the lavender harvesting prototype.
Overall, this study highlights the potential benefits of mechanizing lavender harvesting to meet the growing demand for lavender and other aromatic plants. By reducing reliance on manual labor and improving harvesting efficiency, such innovations could significantly increase the commercial productivity and sustainability of lavender farming. The lavender harvester's customized transportation system, binding unit, and adjustable cutting width are the primary technological features that distinguish it from other machines produced. These technological applications make the harvesting process more efficient and effective in lavender farming. This work represents a significant step in the mechanization of lavender harvesting and provides a foundation for future research and development in this field.

Keywords

Harvesting machine , Bundle binding system , Lavender , Medicinal-aromatic plant , Agricultural mechanization , Turkey

Project Number

120O862

Lavanta Hasat Makinasının Tasarımı ve Prototipinin Geliştirilmesi

Abstract

Tıbbi ve aromatik bitkilere, özellikle lavantaya olan talebin hem yerel hem de küresel tarım piyasalarında artması, lavanta yetiştiriciliğinin önemini giderek artırmaktadır. Bu talep artışı, lavanta tarımında verimliliği ve üretkenliği artırmak için teknolojik ilerlemeler ve tarımsal yenilikler ihtiyacını doğurmuştur. Türkiye'de lavanta hasadı ağırlıklı olarak manuel iş gücüne dayanmaktadır ve bu durum, ticari üretkenliği artırmak için mekanize hasat yöntemlerinin uygulanmasını zorunlu kılmaktadır.
Bu çalışmada, lavanta yetiştiriciliğinde karşılaşılan mekanizasyon sorununu çözmek amacıyla lavanta bitkileri ve arazi özelliklerine uyumlu bir lavanta hasat makinesi prototipi geliştirilmiştir. Süreç, makinenin işlevsel ünitelerinin belirlenmesi ve imalat öncesi tasarım çizimlerinin oluşturulmasıyla başlamıştır.
Üretilen hasat makinesinin performans testleri, saha koşullarında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Değerlendirme, makinenin kesme ve bağlama yeteneklerine odaklanmıştır. Test sonuçları, makinenin ortalama kesme verimliliğinin %95,2 ve ortalama bağlama verimliliğinin %68,0 olduğunu göstermiştir.
Ayrıca, yapılan deneyler, kesim sonrası hasat edilen lavantanın bir konveyör bant sistemi aracılığıyla başarılı bir şekilde römorka veya arazi yüzeyine aktarılabildiğini göstermiştir. Ancak, bağlama süreci ile ilgili olarak alternatif bağlama mekanizmaları araştırılması ve makine performansının iyileştirilmesi gerektiği belirlenmiştir. Bu adımlar, lavanta hasat makinesinin verimliliğini artırmak için önemlidir.
Genel olarak, bu çalışma, lavanta ve diğer aromatik bitkilerin hasadının mekanize edilmesinin potansiyel faydalarını vurgulamaktadır. Manuel iş gücüne olan bağımlılığı azaltarak ve hasat verimliliğini artırarak, bu tür yenilikler lavanta tarımında ticari üretkenliği ve sürdürülebilirliği önemli ölçüde artırabilir. Lavanta hasat makinesi, özelleştirilmiş taşıma sistemi, bağlama ünitesi ve ayarlanabilir biçme genişliği ile üretilen diğer makinelerden ayrılmaktadır. Bu teknolojik uygulamalar, lavanta tarımında hasat işlemlerini daha verimli ve etkili hale getirmektedir. Çalışma, lavanta hasadının mekanizasyonu konusunda önemli bir adım olup, gelecekteki araştırmalar ve geliştirmeler için bir temel teşkil etmektedir.

Keywords

Hasat makinesi , Bağlama sistemi , Lavanta , Tıbbi- aromatik bitki , Tarımsal mekanizasyon , Türkiye

Supporting Institution

Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu

Project Number

120O862

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