Mechanization of Vegetable Production

This chapter covers the key features of vegetable production systems, demonstrates how crop diversity influences mechanization, considers the impacts of diverse mechanization on system sustainability, and highlights the developments which can dramatically improve both the productivity and environmental sustainability of mechanized vegetable production. Harvest operations commonly cause significant soil compaction, requiring intensive tillage to remediate soil to a condition suitable for seedbed preparation for the next crop. Aggregate stability refers to the ability of soil aggregates to maintain their integrity and structure when subjected to disruptive forces, such as those that might occur under the influence of droplet impact, wind blow. Controlled traffic farming (CTF) systems are based on the concept that all field machinery travels on permanently located traffic lanes, while crop production occurs in the untrafficked soil between the wheel tracks. The introduction of Wide Span mechanization to vegetable production would be a significant and transformational change to both the mechanization and operational requirements of the industry.