Improving the uniformity of broccoli for efficient mechanical harvest
This collaboration between a commercial broccoli processor, two commercial seed companies and AHR aimed to find the optimum agronomic management of broccoli to ensure uniform crop maturity and quality for once over mechanical harvesting to reduce cost of harvesting.
The project developed agronomic strategies, introduced and evaluated new broccoli varieties to improve economic viability of broccoli growing in Australia, giving at least 90% once over mechanical harvest year round.
Why study this?
A world-first once over mechanical broccoli harvester was only achieving 50% of the available heads after an initial hand harvest due to variability in the rate of crop development.
What was done
Trials were run over three seasons on four sites in Qld and NSW. The project assessed existing and new broccoli lines over a range of environments specifically for mechanical harvesting. It looked at the effects of planting density, different methods of crop establishment, seed treatments, planting depth, nutrition, irrigation strategy and more.
What we found
Harvest percentage was improved by up to 90% by ensuring a uniform plant stand through:
increasing the plant density
single‐row planting
uniform irrigation and nitrogen applications
good plant establishment and land preparation
selecting the right varieties, and
planting in the right season and district
Eliminating the need to hand harvest cuts the cost to harvest a broccoli crop by 65% and improves economic viability of broccoli growing in Australia.
Where to next?
This research showed that a key element for the successful mechanical harvesting of broccoli is a uniform plant stand at harvest.The next step is to modify the mechanical harvester to match the geometry of the heads and cause less physical head damage.
Resources
The Agronomic program to improve the uniformity of broccoli details how to maximise yield and quality of broccoli for once over mechanical harvesting.
For more information contact
Dr Gordon Rogers, Applied Horticultural Research Pty Ltd
