Article citationsMore>>
A. P. Vargas, “Perspectiva de Exportación a Francia de la Tuna (Opuntia spp.) Producida en México [France Export Perspective of Prickle Pear (Opuntia spp.) Produced in Mexico],” Tesis de Licenciatura, División de Ciencias Económicas Administrativas, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Texcoco, 2002.
has been cited by the following article:
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TITLE:
Photovoltaic Prickle Pear Harvesting Tool
AUTHORS:
Federico Hahn
KEYWORDS:
Prickle Pear; Harvesting Tool; Current Integral
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Resources,
Vol.4 No.3,
July
1,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Mexico is the largest cactus exporter of the world and 40% of the production cost is provided from the harvest operation. Many workers are required to operate daily and suffer wrist pain after two weeks of collecting pears with mechanical pruners. A motor driven tool supplied from a photovoltaic system was employed for harvesting; different blades were tested at different cutting speeds. It was found that toothed blades sliced the pears with efficiencies over 90%. Abrasive blades were finally selected as the current required per cut was minimum, permitting a longer battery lifetime before requiring recharging.