The belted seedling lifter
There exists a strong need for mechanization of nursery operations today. One of the operations which will benefit greatly through mechanization is seedling lifting. Mechanizing the lifting operation can increase harvesting capacity, decrease costs and improve working conditions. In addition, mechanization can help to ease the problems of timely lifting and labor availability and reliability. Mechanization of the lifting operation began some time ago with the development of rigid undercutting blades, i.e. belly mount wrenching blade type. The rigid undercutter has the advantages of easing the manual lifting chore and of having the lowest fixed machine costs. Although maintenance is slow, lifting with the rigid undercutters requires substantial hand labor and provides the minimum amount of soil loosening. Agitating undercutters were developed in an attempt to further ease the lifting chore; i.e. Earl Mann type. The agitating undercutters improve soil loosening and root separation, and at a reasonably low cost, but still require a considerable labor force. In an attempt to decrease this labor requirement and improve the soil loosening and root separation, undercutting and lifting machines were developed.
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Author(s): John Laturner
Publication: National Nursery Proceedings - 1982
Event:
Western Nurserymen's Conference
1982 - Medford, OR
