Energy Consumption during Cutting Tree Branches of Fig (Ficus carica)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

قسم الهندسة الزراعية – کلية الزراعة – جامعة الزقازيق

Abstract

This study evaluated energy consumption for cutting tree branches of the fig in different moisture contents (MC) levels at 10, 16, 20 and 25 % w.b., branch diameter levels at 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 cm, two types of cutting knives, smooth & serrated and three bevel angle of the knives at 15, 20 and 25 degrees.  The analysis of results showed that cutting energy-reduced as the MC reduced. The knife bevel angle of 20 degrees at 10 % MC showed the lowest cutting energy. The lowest cutting energy was about 3.68 Joule (J) at a branch diameter of a fig about 0.5 cm at a bevel angle of 20 degrees and MC of 10 % for cutting by a serrated knife.

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