Subtopic: Calculation of performance parameters – field capacity, efficiency, performance index, application rate and losses
Question Statement:
A potato digger harvester lifts tubers from 2 ridges spaced $75\text{ cm}$ apart. The forward speed of the tractor is $3.2\text{ km/h}$. Total weight of unlifted and damaged tubers collected in a $100\text{ m}^2$ test plot is $12\text{ kg}$, while the marketable tuber yield collected is $288\text{ kg}$. Calculate the field recovery efficiency of the harvester in percentage.
Answer Key:
96
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
Total tuber production in the plot:
$W_{\text{total}} = W_{\text{harvested}} + W_{\text{loss}} = 288 + 12 = 300\text{ kg}$
Recovery efficiency:
$\eta_r = \frac{W_{\text{harvested}}}{W_{\text{total}}} \times 100 = \frac{288}{300} \times 100 = 96.0\%$