INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT FOR CHOPPING VEGETABLE RESIDUES RESULTING FROM TRIMMING IN ORCHARDS / VINYARDS

Abstract

The recovery of wood residues from the spring or autumn pruning of branches, from orchards, in the form of briquettes or pellets, is part of the European policy on reducing non-renewable energy consumption. Also, organic agriculture brought to the fore the need to use natural fertilizers, which is why the National Institute of Research – Development for Machines and Installations Designed for Agriculture and Food Industry- INMA Bucharest conducted applied research for the development of an integrated technology and technical equipment for chopping plant residues resulting from cuttings in vineyards/orchards. Integrating the equipment in the technology, it is possible to obtain plant material that will be the basis for the production of mulch, which will be used in the technologies of organic fertilization of fruit/vine plantations. The advantages of this technology are the fact that the fruits obtained will no longer contain chemical compounds, contributing to the preservation of consumers’ health and at the same time the branches or canes resulting from cuttings will be used efficiently. Also, the chopped wood material can be used to make pellets or briquettes, contributing to solving the global problem of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.