Field tests of a capacitive throughput sensor installed on a potato conveyor digger

Yield monitoring whilst harvesting in combination with a harvester positioning system is a fundamental source of information for field yield maps. In this research, a capacitive throughput sensor for potatoes has been tested under field conditions. Two testing days were arranged in the summer and autumn harvesting periods. The best results were obtained during the second harvesting day in autumn under better harvesting conditions. Correlation coefficients between the electronic apparatus output voltages and the weights of harvested potatoes varied in the range from 0.76 to 0.83. The suitability of the capacitive throughput sensor method for continuous potato throughput measurement under real field conditions was proved. However, a further series of tests with a more sophisticated potato harvesting machine are needed