THE USE OF PEANUT DIGGER MACHINE IN SUGAR BEET HARVESTING TO MAXIMIZE THE UTILIZATION OF THE MACHINE

This research aimed to study the possibility of using peanut digger machine for lifting sugar beet and investigate some operating parameters such as forward speed, digging depth and vibrating fork affecting on the performance of digger machine to maximize the utilization of the machine. The study was carried out in Port-Said Research Station, Port-Said Governorate, during April 2012. The use of a digger machine not only reduces the cost and time of the lifting operation, but also improved the soil properties as the result of deep digging, as well as increasing productivity of the next crop. The results indicated that increasing forward speed from 1.6 to 3.7 km/h led to increase the average of roots losses percentage from 2.7 to 4.1 and from 2.7 to 4.0% with vibrating and non-vibrating fork, respectively at digging depth ranged from 15 to 25 cm. Increasing digging depth from 15 to 25 cm tends to decrease the average of roots losses percentage from 3.8 to 2.7% and from 3.8 to 2.9% for vibrating and non-vibrating fork, respectively at forward speed ranged of 1.6 to 3.7 km/h. The least roots losses percentage 2.0 and 2.1% were obtained at forward speed of 1.6 km/h and digging depth of 25 cm with vibrating and non-vibrating fork, respectively. The height roots cleaning percentage 97.45 and 91.3% were obtained at forward speed of 3.7 km/h and digging depth of 15 cm for vibrating and non-vibrating fork, respectively.