INVESTIGATION OF MECHANISED MARIGOLD FLOWERS HARVESTING

It is performed testing of mechanical harvest of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) using virtual rotated comb type chamomile harvester. The influences of penetration of harvester cylinder into canopy, cylinder RPM and machine speed on harvesting characteristics: harvested yield of different flowers' classes according to stem lengths (0-2 and >2 cm) and harvest losses in a form of not picked-up and downfallen flowers were tested. There were performed five harvest passes during vegetation period. During the first hat-vest pass, cylinder penetration was 52% of average plants' height, cylinder RPM 130 min(-1) and machine speed 1,2 km/h, results with maximal yield, 2.150 kg/ha of flowers with stems length up to 2 cm, and 2.050 kg/ha of all others. The losses were: not picked-up flowers 160 kg/ha, and downfallen flowers 250 kg/ha. Mass productivity of harvester was 336 kg/ha, and surface 0.08 ha/h. By following harvest passes the yield of flowery was reduced to final 400 kg/ha, whereby the yield flowers with stems under 2 cm achieved 263 kg/ha. The losses were approximately the same. Investigation showed that marigold can be successfully harvested with this type of harvester. The shortening of long stems and separation of harvested stalks and leaves should be investigated in the future.