EVALUATION OF THE OPTIMAL FORWARD SPEED IN THE SUNFLOWER HARVESTING PROCESS WITH THE ANOVA STATISTICAL METHOD AND AHP DECISION MODEL

Abstract

Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.) is one of the main crops in the northwest region of the Province of Buenos Aires and therefore it is important to analyze the harvest process where the greatest grain loss occurs. The work is carried out specifically on the confectionery hybrid, where the losses are directly proportional to the forward speed of the combine and the characteristics of the grain (humidity and size) make it more susceptible to shelling. Objective: Determine a hierarchy by using the ANOVA statistical method and the AHP hierarchical decision model, an optimal advance speed of the harvester, in the confectioner's sunflower among the three speeds tested. Materials and Methods: The database obtained through field trials was used in the evaluation of the shattering of the crop in the use of shields of different materials and structure in the Nueva Castilla establishment on a hybrid confectioner NTC 99 Argensun, with a harvesting machine Jhon Deere S670 and a Mainero 1040 header. The speeds tested were 5km/h, 5.5km/h and 6km/h. Results: the same difference and hierarchy of treatments was obtained with both AHP and ANOVA evaluation models. Conclusion: a forward speed of 6km/h is recommended since the losses are very similar to the speed of 5km/h and no significant difference is f