The 2011 ASHS Annual Conference

Several different chestnut species and their hybrids have been planted by growers and nuts from these trees are currently marketed in North America. However, chestnut producers have identified the high cost and scarce availability of labor during the harvest season (September and October) as major limitations to profitable production of chestnuts. While most producers harvest chestnuts using a nut wizard™, alternative methods are needed to increase harvest efficiency. Alternative harvesters do exist, but have proved to be either cost prohibitive or ineffective for use in a sod-covered orchard floor. For this reason, a study was conducted to compare the time required to harvest and sort Chinese chestnuts using a modified Greystone paddock vacuum ^TM versus a nut wizard ^TM. Harvest time of nuts was reduced by 42% with a paddock vacuum as compared to use of a nut wizard. Long periods of vacuum use resulted in forearm fatigue. The vacuum also required ear protection from the equipment noise and collected dust and soil clods with the chestnuts, which required further sorting. An additional piece of equipment was also required for towing the vacuum through the orchard. In contrast, the nut wizard required more operator bending and failed to pick up partially buried chestnuts.