To address the issue of the single-crop adaptability of current head-forming leafy vegetable harvesters in China-which limits their ability to harvest multiple vegetable varieties-a universal cabbage-Chinese cabbage harvesting platform was designed. This design was based on the statistical analysis of the physical and planting parameters of major cabbage and Chinese cabbage varieties in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. The harvesting platform adopts a modular design, enabling the harvesting of both Chinese cabbage and cabbage by replacing specific components and adjusting relevant parameters. Through the theoretical analysis of key components, the specific parameters of each part were determined, and a soil-trough harvesting test was conducted. The results of the Chinese cabbage harvesting test showed that at a forward speed of 1 kmh-1 and a conveyor belt speed of 60 RPM, the platform achieved optimal performance, with an extraction success rate of 86.7%, a clamping and conveying success rate of 92.3%, and an operational damage rate of 6.7%. The cabbage soil-trough harvesting test results indicated that when the extraction roller speed was 100 RPM, the conveyor belt speed was 60 RPM, and the forward speed was 1 kmh-1, the extraction and feeding success rate reached 93.3%, the conveying success rate was 100%, and the operational loss rate was 6.7%, representing the best overall performance. This study provides theoretical support and references for the design of universal harvesters for head-forming leafy vegetables.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is a globally important spice crop, particularly significant in Xinjiang, China, where it is extensively cultivated in cotton-cumin intercropping systems. This review concentrates on the serious bottleneck hindering the development of the cumin industry: the low level of harvesting mechanization. Traditional manual harvesting methods are labor-intensive, inefficient, and result in high yield losses. This paper fully explores the prospects and challenges of mechanizing cumin harvesting in accordance with the particular biological characteristics of cumin plants and the complexity of intercropping systems. We review the current status of research in the following domains: (1) cumin biological traits and intercropping models; (2) grain loss and stalk damage patterns in stripper harvesting of similar crops; (3) factors influencing root-soil interaction during mechanical extraction; (4) uprooting-conveying harvesting techniques and row division/plant singulation methods applicable to root and tuber crops; and (5) cumin-threshing and -cleaning technologies. This review highlights the inadequacy of current grain-harvesting machinery for cumin and underscores the urgent need for specialized, low-loss harvesting technologies tailored to cumin's delicate nature and intercropping context. Finally, we propose future research directions to overcome these mechanization challenges and promote the sustainable development of the cumin industry.

Metering device is a main component of vegetable transplanters that could save cost of operation and labour requirement in transplanting. Therefore, a tractor-drawn three-row automatic vegetable transplanter using an inclined magazine-type metering device for cylindrical paper pot seedlings was developed and evaluated in field. Experiments on metering device were conducted at seven forward speeds 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 km/h, to determine the optimal performance speed for 45-day old tomato seedlings. Data on seedling spacing, tilted planting, soil cover, seedling damaged while conveying and feeding and transplanting were recorded and analysed for conveying efficiency (CE), feeding efficiency (FE), transplanting efficiency (TE), overall efficiency (OE) and seedling spacing (SS). The CE, FE, TE and OE were found to be 100, 83.3, 91.7 and 96.7%, respectively, at 1.2 km/h. The SS was ranged from 633 to 651 mm for speed range of 1-1.2 km/h. Based on the optimized values of laboratory studies, a tractor-drawn three-row automatic vegetable transplanter was developed and evaluated in the field. The field performance data revealed that actual field capacity of the machine was 0.11 ha/h at a forward speed of 1.2 km/h, with a 50% field efficiency. The transplanter can transplant per row 33 seedlings/min, compared to 3.7 seedlings/min by manual method. Also, the saving in cost and labour is about 55 and 93.9% as compared to manual method. This transplanter offers efficient transplanting of potted seedlings, ensuring timely operation, labour savings and reduced drudgery compared to conventional practices.

The objective of this study was to advance sustainable forestry development through the creation of mechanical equipment, taking into account forestry operational methods. A suspended automatic feeding and retracting excavation device for tree pits was engineered, and its interaction with soil was investigated by integrating the Discrete Element Method (DEM) with Multi-Flexible Body Dynamics (MFBD). Based on simulation results, the research explored the impact mechanisms of the machine on soil transportation, working load, and fatigue lifespan of the spiral blades for different terrains and operating conditions. The coupling simulation method demonstrated the potential for designing and testing forestry equipment in specific operating environments, reducing time and resource consumption for field testing. Terrain significantly influenced soil disturbance variability, while the effect of operating direction was minor. Operational parameters should consider soil and water conservation, favoring the formation of fish-scale pits. Field tests in forested areas validate the practicality of the apparatus, providing valuable insights for the operation and equipment design of earth augers in hilly regions.

The preservation of cultivated land quality stands as a vital prerequisite for ensuring food security and sustainability. In the black soil area of northeast China, a large amount of fertilizer was used to stabilize grain production in its early stages, which damaged soil structure and polluted the ecological environment. Based on the panel data of fertilization intensity of 48 districts and counties in Heilongjiang Province from 2010 to 2020, this study takes the implementation of the Three-Year Action Plan for the Protection of Black Soil Farmland in Heilongjiang Province for the (2018-2020) (TYAP) policy as a natural experiment, and uses the difference-indifferences (DiD) method to identify the causal effect of the policy on the local fertilization intensity. The results of the empirical study showed that the implementation of the TYAP policy significantly reduced the fertilization intensity of the black soil cultivated land implemented by the policy during the implementation period, which resulted in a decrease of 11.97% on average compared with the areas without the policy implementation. Several robustness tests provided additional confirmation of the aforementioned findings. This study further revealed that the policy mitigated fertilization intensity by fostering advancements in agricultural mechanization.

Drainage in sugarcane cultivation in high-rainfall areas is of paramount importance because it affects sugarcane plants from planting, maintenance, and production. Poor drainage can damage plants and reduce productivity. This study was conducted at Bone Sugarcane Plantation, which typically has high annual rainfall; thus, drainage is necessary. The existing drainage channel cannot drain all surface runoff quickly and causes problems to sugarcane plants. Therefore, a study was conducted with the aim of designing the shape and size of drainage channels that can drain surface runoff quickly, have a strong structure, allows for an effective use of cultivated land by reducing headland for tractor turning, and maintains appropriate soil moisture. The research began by determining the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil using the Falling Head method. Surface runoff discharge was calculated using rational equations to determine the dimensions of the drainage channel. Rainfall intensity was determined from Intensity Duration Frequency curve which was constructed using Manonobe method. The results showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil was 3.54 x 10(-3) cm/s which is suitable with surface drainage. Rainfall intensity is estimated to be 201.33 mm/hour. The shape and dimensions of the drainage channel are parabolic with the largest width and depth of 1.70 m and 0.90, respectively. This study provides a practical method to solve drainage problems in sugarcane fields that apply full mechanization. In addition, the practical analysis used in this study can be adapted to analyze the design of drainage channel for other plantations or regions with similar constrains.