Technological requirements for the development of a bed forming machine for strawberry planting

Abstract

The findings of a comprehensive study devoted to the development and substantiation of the technological requirements for the design of a bed-former intended for mechanized planting of strawberries in farm enterprises of the Kyrgyz Republic are discussed. The relevance of the research is determined by the need to adapt agronomic processes to current challenges associated with climate change, limited water resources, and labor shortages which significantly affect the sustainability, energy efficiency, and profitability of berry growing. Detailed analysis of modern strawberry growing technologies was carried out including the plasticulture system, the use of drip irrigation systems, polyethylene mulching films, and mechanization of planting operations. It was pointed out that the integration of these practices contributed to improving the microclimate in the root zone increasing yield and market quality of berries and reducing production costs. The field studies were conducted on the plantations of the Clery variety in the Sokuluk District of the Chuy Region of the Kyrgyz Republic. The research determined the geometric parameters of the beds, the characteristics of drip tape layout, and mulch film placement techniques. Based on the analysis of the obtained data, the technological requirements for the bed-former design were formulated: making a bed 200 mm high with a base width of 700 mm, automatic or semi-automatic placement of one or two drip lines, the presence of a mechanism for stretching and burying film edges, compatibility with tractors of up to 1.4 kN traction class, and a modular structural design. The obtained results may serve as a foundation for designing combined agricultural machinery capable of simultaneously performing bed forming, drip irrigation installation, and mulch film placement within a single technological process, thereby increasing energy efficiency, labor productivity, and economic performance of strawberry growing under the conditions of the Kyrgyz Republic.