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Presentation
Assessment of the mechanization of row covers for cucurbit crops
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Conference Proceedings and Presentations
  • Rachel L. Herzberg, Iowa State University
  • H. Mark Hanna, Iowa State University
  • Brian L. Steward, Iowa State University
  • Kurt A. Rosentrater, Iowa State University
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Conference
2017 ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
7-1-2017
DOI
10.13031/aim.201700686
Conference Title
2017 ASABE Annual International Meeting
Conference Date
July 16–19, 2017
Geolocation
(47.6587802, -117.4260466)
Abstract

Row covers provide pest protection for cantaloupe and squash, but require labor to set up and remove. A mechanical retrieval system reduced time to remove cover and generally added to labor savings, reducing total time for deployment and retrieval by 5 minutes (nearly a 10% time reduction as compared to manual retrieval). Using conduit hoops in the Proteknet system increased time to insert and erect hoops into the soil. Hoop erection and hoop handling in and out of storage required 12 minutes more time for the Proteknet/conduit system (nearly a 27% time increase), with much of the time attributed to deployment issues.

Comments

This proceeding is from 2017 ASABE Annual International Meeting, Paper No. 1700686, pages 1-5 (doi: 10.13031/aim.201700686). St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE.

Copyright Owner
American Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Rachel L. Herzberg, H. Mark Hanna, Brian L. Steward and Kurt A. Rosentrater. "Assessment of the mechanization of row covers for cucurbit crops" Spokane, WA, United States(2017)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/brian_steward/72/