An innovative technical hemp harvesting method and a diagram of a multifunctional unit for its implementation

Relevance. Technical (drug-free) hemp is cultivated for seeds, for fiber and for bilateral use (seeds + fiber), so various technologies and technical means are used for its harvesting. Harvesting technologies require the use of specialized high-performance equipment capable of performing several technological operations in one pass. The process is complicated by the height of the plants, reaching an average of 2–3 m by the time of harvest, as well as the structure of the stems, which have a fibrous structure and a woody component. The analysis showed that at present there are no domestic machines capable of harvesting industrial hemp with lint on the vine and maintaining the technical length of the stems. This served as the basis for the development of a new method of harvesting and the scheme of the unit for its implementation.

Methods. A wide range of scientific research in the field of cultivation, harvesting and processing of technical cannabis has been used. The principle of compliance of the developed method and scheme of the harvesting unit with the scientific and technical level is applied in terms of the totality of indicators of reliability and quality of the technological process, environmental friendliness and production safety, quick change of working bodies, patent protection.

Results. An innovative method of harvesting technical hemp has been developed with the removal of seed panicles at the root and the preservation of the technical length of the stem. A structural-technological scheme of a multifunctional unit for implementing the method based on a domestic combine harvester, aggregated with adapters for collecting the seed part of hemp and cutting the combed stalks is proposed. It is expected that the developed method will increase harvesting productivity up to 30%, threshing quality up to 95% and seed purity up to 50%, improve the quality of hemp trusts to one variety number, obtain primary cleaned seeds, as well as hemp weed for the production of long hemp fiber and bonfires.

1. Kabunina I.V. Modern world market structure hemp production. Mezhdunarodnyi sel’skokhozyaistvennyi zhurnal. 2021; (4): 40–44 (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.24412/2587-6740-2021-4-40-44

2. Smirnov A.A., Serkov V.A., Zelenina O.N. On the general concept of innovation development of hemp prodaction. Achievements of Science and Technology of AIC. 2011; (12): 34–36 (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/okkjbf

3. Rostovtsev R.A., Ushchapovsky I.V., Golubev I.G., Mishurov N.P. Machines, equipment and technologies for cultivation and processing of fiber crops. Scientific edition. Moscow: Rosinformagrotekh«». 2020; 156 (In Russian). ISBN 978-5-7367-1597-8

4. Koropchenko S.P., Marinchenko I.A. Directions in the mechanization of industrial hemp harvesting. Innovative developments for the production of flax. Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Flax Growing Mechanization. Tver: Tver State University. 2015; 190–196 (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/tytpcf

5. Sheichenko V.A., Marinchenko I.A., Kovalev M.M. Influence of operating parts of machines on hemp raw material. Machinery and Equipment for Rural Area. 2016; (3): 11–13 (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/vpwjyn

6. Puchkov E.M., Popov R.A. Aspects of the differentiated formation of a system of machines for various technologies of harvesting technical hemp. Agrarian science. 2022; (5): 122–127 (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.32634/0869- 8155-2022-359-5-122-127

7. Faugno S., Sannino M., Crimaldi M., Caracciolo G., Assirelli A. Hemp seed mechanical harvesting efficiency analysis. EUBCE 2018 — 26th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition, 14–17 May 2018, Copenhagen, Denmark. 2018; 374–377.

8. Novikov E.V., Bezbabchenko A.V., Altukhova I.N., Puchkov E.M. Technology of processing of hemp after the grain combine in the same and chopped fibre. Proceedings of Higher Education Institutions. Textile Industry Technology. 2017; (2): 156–160 (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/zejplf

9. Popov R.A., Bakulova I.V. The results of field studies of harvesting technical hemp by various technologies. The Agrarian scientific journal. 2022; (7): 108–112 (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.28983/asj.y2022i7pp108-112

10. Popov R.A. Innovative developments and modern technical means for seeded hemp harvesting. Taurida Herald of the Agrarian Sciences. 2021; (1): 150–163 (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/emphbn

11. Ignatov V.D., Rostovtsev R.A., Mkrtchyan S.R., Popov R.A., Puchkov E.M., Solovev S.V. Method for harvesting technical hemp for seeds and retted stalks and a multifunctional unit for its implementation. RF Patent No. 2772915. Starting date of the patent validity period: 07.06.2021. Published: 27.05.2022 (In Russian).