Modification of branch shredder for vineyard pruning wastes and determination of operational values in field conditions

This study was carried out in June 2023 in the vineyard of a producer with a modern wire finishing system and traditional spreading system in Dicle district of Diyarbakır province. Pruning residues of Boğazkere (wine grapes), Öküzgözü (wine grapes) and Mazurmi (Şire) grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties were used as plant material in the research. In this study conducted to evaluate vineyard pruning residues and solve ongoing problems; The study was carried out at three different chopper blade speeds (1500 rpm, 2000 rpm and 2500 rpm) and feeding amounts, using two, three and four chopper blades on a machine produced for branch shredding. The effects of the number of chopper blades, chopper blade speed and feeding amount on fuel consumption, power consumption, engine noise and grain sizes were determined for three grape varieties. According to the results of the study, the highest fuel consumption was achieved in the Mazurmi (Şire) variety as 1,260 l/h (1,685 kg/h), while Boğazkere 1,075 l/h (1,439 kg/h) and Öküzgözü 1,088 l/h (1,454 kg/h). It was the same across varieties. While the effect of the number of chopper blades on fuel consumption was found to be statistically insignificant, the effect of the speed of the chopper blades on fuel consumption values was found to be statistically significant (p<0.001). These values were found to be 0,987 l/h at 1500 rpm, 1,332 l/h at 2000 rpm and 1,303 l/h at 2500 rpm, respectively. The difference between the varieties in terms of power consumption values was found to be significant (p <0.01). While the highest power consumption value was 4,565 kW in the Mazurmi (syre) grape variety, which has high fuel consumption values, no statistical difference was found between Boğazkere and Öküzgözü grape varieties. The effect of blade speeds on power consumption was found to be very important. Power consumption showed a linear increase depending on the increase in the number of blade revolutions. The highest power consumption value was obtained as 4,722 kW at the chopper blade speed of 2500 rpm, while it was determined as 4,102 kW at 2000 rpm and 3,574 kW at 1500 rpm. The difference between the moment values calculated for the varieties was statistically very significant (P<0.001). The highest torque value, power consumption value and fuel consumption values were obtained as 22,35 Nm in the Mazurmi (Şire) variety. There was an inverse relationship between the number of revolutions and the torque values. A linear decrease occurred in the calculated moment values depending on the increase in the number of revolutions. Despite the power consumption, the highest torque value was obtained as 22,76 Nm at a speed of 1500 rpm. The torque value was measured as 19,58 Nm at 2000 rpm and 18,03 Nm at the highest speed (2500 rpm). Noise values increased with the increase in speed for all types and blade numbers. For all kinds particle sizes decreased due to the increase in the number of revolutions in all three blade numbers. In the chopping processes performed with a two-blade chopper, 73% of the Mazurmi (Şire) variety had particle sizes less than 20 mm at 2500 rpm. In the shredding made with a three-blade chopper, it showed good performance with 44% at 2500 rpm for particle sizes less than 20 mm in the Mazurmi (Şire) variety. In the shredding made with a four-blade chopper, it was determined that the Öküzgözü variety showed high performance with a shredding percentage of 72% below 20 mm at 2500 rpm.