On the efforts for rationalizing the production of peanuts in Spain, one of the objectives was to obtain a well adapted variety, suitable for mechanization. We tried to get information on the characteristics that would condition the suitability of a variety to mechanized production, principally mechanical harvesting. All the characters studied would then be taken into account in a breeding program

Ortiz-Cañavate Puig-Mauri, Jaime

Ruiz-Altisent, Margarita

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Mechanical properties of peanut varieties

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ZESZYTY PROBLEMOWE POSTE.POW NAUK ROLNICZYCH 1978 z. 203 
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PEANUT VARIETIES 
Jaime Ortiz-Canavate, Margarita Ruiz Altisent 
INTRODUCTION 
On the efforts for rationalizing the production of peanuts in Spain, 
one of the objectives was to obtain a well adapted variety, suitable for 
mechanization. We tried to get information on the characteristics that 
would condition the suitability of a variety to mechanized production, 
principally mechanical harvesting. All the characters studied would then 
be taken into account in a breeding program. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
The eight following varieties were tested, which represent a wide 
range of types: Argentine, Palma (Spanish); Cacahua (Valencia); Bunch 
G-2, NC-2, GA-119-20, V. Jumbo, Moruno (Virginia). As can be seen, 
some of these varieties are from American origin, and some are local 
varieties from Spain. For the measurements of detachment force, ma-
nual dynamometers cf 500, 1000 and 2000 g were used: t h e m a x i m u m force 
at the detachment of the pod from — its union with the peduncle or peg 
was determined in the tests. The plants were smoothly dug, left on the 
ground for drying 24 h and tested in the field. Four pods of each plant we-
re always measured, in whole maturi ty and without any damage. Compre-
ssion testing of the pods was made with a universal testing machine * 
with a disc of 5 cm in diameter; operating velocity was 1 mm/s for 
compression of the pods in two positions: carpelar suture parallel to the 
compression planes, and suture perpendicular to them. Maximum force 
at rupture or failure was determined. 
A laboratory picking device was constructed (Fig. 1). It consisted 
basically of three cylinders with elastic fingers and its corresponding 
concaves, in line, that can be made independent by adjustable metal 
plates, so that it is possible to work with one, two or three cylinders, 
* LTCM Chatillon Universal Stand. 
478 J . ORTIZ—CANAVATE, M. RUIZ ALTISENT 
Peanut plants-
rash 
L JLd Peanuts * trash • b , _f 
Fig. 1. Stationary mechanical picker, foir laboratory tests 
and also recover separately the three fractions of the product. The tests 
with this machine consisted basically in the picking (or "threshing") of 
a number of plants (around 20, that represent 1.5—2 kg each time), the 
resevering and the cleaning of the pods, and the classification for da-
mage in three groups: 1) "without damage", 2) "small punctures" or 
"scrapings" and 3) "holes", "broken pods", etc., which were weighed, 
and expressed in percentage of total weight. Four rotaing velocities of the 
cylinders: 350, 450, 550 and 650 r/min (equivalent to: 7.5, 9.6, 11.8 and 
13.6 m/s of peripheral velocity respectively), with four replications, were 
used in each test. In all cases analysis of variance of the data was per-
formed. 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
1. D e t a c h m e n t f o r c e (f.d.) o f t h e p o d s f o r d i f f e -
r e n t v a r i e t i e s . Table 1 gives the mean values of the f.d. for the 
eight varieties determined in one year (randomized blocks and 80 deter-
minations per variety were used). It can be stated that the differences 
of mean f.d. between the varieties in the time of harvest are very im-
portant, and not correlated with the mean pod-size of the variety. 
The system used for the detrmination of the f.d. proved to be satisfac-
tory, with the following considerations; 
— The state of health of the plants, especially with respect to crown 
and stem rot (Sclerotium, Botrytis, Aspergillus) is essential for the value 
of f.d. 
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF P E A N U T VARIETIES 479 
T a b l e 1 
Detachment force of the pods (g) and max. 
length of the pods (cm) of the eight varieties 
tested 
Variety 
Argentina 
Bunch G-2 
NC-2 
Palme 
Virginia Jumbo 
Moruno 
Cacahua 
(s.e.:30 
f.d.(g) 
1,087 
813 
772 
787 
728 
671 
591 
595 
Size of pads 
(long. nax. cm) 
24.24+.31 
35.09 ±.70 
35.25+.58 
28.01-f-.52 
35.71 + .62 
37.62+.69 
37.75+.40 
46.02+.81 
— For increasing precision in the measurements, plants should be 
as uniform as possible with respect to: digging date, moisture content 
(seeds at 30°/o) and ambient conditions during determination (not too 
high temperatures or too dry air). 
In our conditions, the determination of 20 to 30 plants (4 pods per 
plant) for each line or variety, would be sufficient for detecting signi-
ficant differences of 65 g at 5°/o level. In (1) the values given for this 
character in three different Asiatic peanut varieties were very coinci-
dent with our results (1,100—1,300 g, 800 g and 700 g). The f.d. value 
decreased not more than 200 g in the last four weeks of maturat ion of 
the plants in the soil. On the other hand, the correlation of the f.d. 
with moisture is given in Figure 2. 
r max 585 o Argentine o m w llQ0 ? 
mm 625 g 
300 400 500 600 700 800 900 WOO WO 
Fig. 2. Decrease of the f.d. during the dessication period, for two varieties 
J. ORTIZ—CANAVATE, M. RUIZ ALTISENT 
2. L e n g t h of t h e p e g s o r p e d u n c l e s (l.p.). Having 
measured the first year the depth and width of the clod of pods and 
soil for each variety (Table 2), we could state the grouping of the varie-
ties in the Spanish (plants always erect) and Virginia (with bigger clod). 
All the varieties were cultivated in single rows, (62.5 cm between rows) 
and with ground irrigation. 
T a b l e 2 
Width and depth of the clod of pods and earth and length 
of the peduncles, in the eight varieties (in cm) 
Variety 
Moruno 
Bunch G-2 
NC-2 
Virg. Jumbo 
GA-119-20 
Palma 
Argentine 
Cacahua 
(s.e. 
Width of 
clod (cm) 
17.4 
17.3 
17.1 
16.8 
16.8 
15.9 
15 3 
15.8 
:.54) 
Depth of 
clod (cm) 
15.10 
13.15 
14.35 
13.00 
14.20 
12.70 
11.00 
12.55 
(s.e.:.44) 
l .p.(en) 
7.64+.3L 
8.70±.30 
7.12+.23 
7.61±.3l 
6.46±.23 
7.09+.23 
4.15 + .19 
6.35±.26 
The values for the second year were smaller (low production was 
general this year) but the grouping of the varieties turned out the same. 
The third year, the length of 50 pegs from different random plants of 
each variety were measured. The correlation between mean width o£ 
the clod and l.p. for the eight varieties is highly significant (Table 2). 
3. R e s i s t a n c e o f t h e p o d s t o ' c o m p r e s s i o n , The 
measures were always taken in the two positions described: there are 
varieties with high compression resistance in parallel position (Palma) 
and others with a very similar resistance in both positions (Cacahua) 
(Table 3). There appears a significant influence of locality (temperatu-
res and type of soil) on the resistance characteristics of the pods. In the 
tests of compression in vertical position, it is measured mainly the r e -
sistance of the suture to "opening". This resistance increases (highly in 
Palma and Bunch G-2, and less in the rest) with drying. 
In the tests in horizontal position, the characteristics resistance of the 
shell, as well as the resistance of the suture, the position of the seeds 
inside and the form of the pod are contributing factors, so that this 
measures becomes the most varieble. The differences between varieties 
appear, though, highly significant. 
4. M e c h a n i c a l p i c k i n g . With the laboratory picker, and 
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF P E A N U T VARIETIES 481 
T a b l e 3 
Resistance of the pods to compression, in kg, for two positions and two 
moisture eorutenltls: high moisture (h.m.) and low moisture (l.m.) 
Variety 
GA-119-20 
Palma 
Cacahua 
Maruno 
Virg. Jumbo 
NC-2 
Bunch G-2 
Argentine 
(s.e. 
Suture 
paralell 
(h.m.) 
11.04 
8.30 
8.47 
8.65 
P.17 
7.60 
7.96 
5.52 
: 0.46) 
Suture 
paralell 
(l.m.) 
10.02 
10.18 
9.96 
8.61 
8.65 
8.44 
7.53 
4.96 
Suture 
perpend. 
(h.m.) 
7.32 
4.08 
7.01 
6.52 
5.12 
5.08 
4.37 
4.42 
(s.e. 0.34) 
Suture 
perpend. 
(l.m.) 
8.01 
7.62 
7.67 
6.35 
6.53 
6.17 
6.21 
4.51 
the described method the eight varieties were tested for their adaption 
to actual mechanical harvesting, related with the mechanical properties 
studied. Figure 3 shows the results of a) four earlier varieties in good 
dessication condition, low moisture; b) four later varieties — high moi-
sture. 
The results of these tests could be summarized as follows: 
o) 
50 
40 
30 
20 
10 
losses 
/ Cacahua 
Virginia ]. 
NC-2 
Bunch G-2 
GA-119-20 
r^^ --*' 
Palma 
y-^> Mora no 
''^Argentine 
7.5 13.9 mis 
Fig. 3. Losses caused by mechanical picking, in percentage, a) four earlier varieties, 
low moisture, b) four later varieties, high moisture 
— The effect of moisture of pods and plants is most important on 
the incidence of damage. The losses were bigger with higher moisture 
content, and were also related to the size of the pods. This was an evi-
dence that the damage is more because of compression of the pods, 
passing through too narrow clearances, and not so much because of im-
pacts. This indicates the need of adjusting the different parts of the 
31 — ZPPNR z. 203 
482 J.' ORTIZ—CANAVATE, M. RUIZ ALTISENT 
machine to the pod characteristics of the variety. On the other hand, 
the compression tests were very indicative of the specific resistance of 
each variety to mechanical harvesting. 
— The efficiency of picking was very high in all cases, also at the mi-
nimum peripheral velocity of the cylinders, in which the damages are 
low, also in the cases when the crop is in conditions of high moisture, 
as is the case of the Valencia area of Spain. 
CONCLUSIONS 
Of the varieties studied, and in our conditions, the most suitable, for 
mechanical harvesting would be GA-119-20 and Palma, as well as NC-2. 
The established breeding program is based on the crossings of these va-
rieties as the parentals. 
REFERENCES 
1. Inone I. K. y Yoshida K.: Studies on seed shedding in crop plants. On the ease 
of pod detachment in groundnut. Proc. Soc. Japan 39 (1) 47—53 (Japanese) (Cit. 
en PI. Br. Abstracts Vol. 41, 1971), 1970. 
2. Mohsenin N. N.: Physical properties of plant and! animal materials Vol. 1. 
Gordon and Breach. N.Y., 1970. 
3. Norden A. J.: Peanut breeding. Sunshine State Agr. Res. Rep. 13 (1): 14—16, 
1968. 
4. Ruiz Altisent M.: Seleccion en el cacahuete (Arachis hypogaea) enfocada a la 
mecanizacion de la recoleccion. Tesis Doctoral. E.T.S.I.A. Madrid, 1974. 
5. Ruiz Altisent M. y Ortiz-Canavate J.: Physical properties of peanuts related to 
harvesting mechanization. ASAE Meeting. Loncoln. (Nebraska) June 1976. 
6. Several Authors: Peanuts-Culture and Uses. A Symposium. Am. Peanut Res. 
Educ. Ass. Inc. Stillwater, Oklahoma 1973. 
J. Ortiz-Canavate, M. Ruiz Altisent 
MECHANICZNE WL.ASCIWOSCI ODMIAN ORZESZKA ZIEMNEGO 
S t r e s z c z e n i e 
Niektore metody badania cech mechanicznych plodow rolnych zastosowano przy 
ocenie osmiu odrnian orzeszka ziemnego, ktore reprezentuja. szeroki zakres upra-
wianych form. Przeprowadzono serie. pomiarow cech charakterystycznych dla tej 
rosliny: sila odlaczenia od strata, szerokosc i glebokosc umieszczenia masy strakow, 
rodzaju gleby, odpornosc strakow na sciskanie, drgania wibracyjne oraz tarcie 
i zdolnosc do zag^szczenia. Skonstruowano urza.dzenie wirowe i mechaniczne zry-
warke.. 
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PEANUT VARIETIES 483 
Sila odlaezenia od straka jest charakterystyczna dla kazdej odmiany. Srednie 
wartosci mieszcza_ sie. miedzy 1,0 a 0,4 kG. Sila ta nieznacznie wzrasta w czasie 
ostatniej fazy dojrzewania roslin w glebie i zmniejsza sie. do polowy swej wartosci 
w okresie suszenia. Szerokosc masy strakow zalezy przede wszystkim od rodzaju 
gleby. Odpornosc poszczegolnych strakow na scislkanie zamyka sie w granicach 
1—3 kG, zas dla roznych odmian zmienia sie. miedzy 5 a 12 kG. Granica szybkosci 
obwodowej cylinderkow zrywajacych wynosi 7 m/sek i jest przyjmowana dla mniej 
odpornych odmian w badanych warunkach. Straty przy zbiorze mechanicznym rosna. 
szybciej dla wyzszych, w porownaniu do nizszych, zawartosci wilgoci w strakach. 
SI. OpTUC-KawbSteaTe, M. Pyuc AjibTUcenr 
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Address of the authors 
Prof. Jaime Ortiz-Canavate, Dr Margarita Ruiz Altisent, 
Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros Agronomos, Madrid-3, Spain 
31* 


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