Mechanized harvesting of 'Conilon' coffee clones

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the speed effect of a coffee harvester and its interaction with 'Conilon' coffee (Coffea canephora) clones on the mechanical harvesting efficiency. The experiment was installed in São Mateus, in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, in 2012, with 27 clones of early, intermediate, and late fruit ripening. The first harvest was performed after the plant cuttings at 0.5 m above the ground, in 2016, and the canopy renovation. The plants and the harvester were evaluated in 2018. The coffee harvester was tested at 0.6 and 0.8 km h-1. Measurements were performed for stripping and harvesting efficiencies, fruit loss on the ground, unstripped fruit, defoliation with manual and mechanized harvesting, fruit removal force, and fruit ripening degree. The tests with the coffee harvester indicated a technical feasibility of 88% average harvesting efficiency, and a 15% lower defoliation than the manual harvesting. The harvesting speed of 0.8 km h-1 results in higher stripping and harvesting efficiencies, in a lower percentage of loss on the ground, and in less unstripped fruit, regardless of the evaluated clones. Fruit removal force and ripening degree influence the stripping and harvesting efficiencies and the percentage of unstripped fruit of 'Conilon' coffee.