Assessment of Tuber Damage in Potato Harvesting as Affected by Variety, Harvesting Speed, and Physical Characteristics

As the global population continues to grow each year, the demand for basic foodstuffs is also increasing. Among these, potatoes are considered one of the most essential crops, and their long-term storage is critical to extending their usability. A key criterion for effective potato storage is ensuring that the tubers remain free from mechanical damage. Determining the rate of mechanical damage in potato tubers during harvesting is a critical factor affecting both yield and storage longevity. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the extent of such damage during the harvesting process. In this study, mechanical damage rates in potato tubers were evaluated using three different cultivars, Hermes (P1), Jelly (P2), and Madeleine (P3), and two harvesting speeds, 2 km/h (S1) and 3 km/h (S2). Additionally, the geometric mean diameter (GMD), tuber volume (TV), tuber surface area (TSA), and sphericity (SP) of the tubers were analyzed. The results indicated that the mechanical damage (MD) rate was highest in cultivars P1 and P2 (6.16%) and lowest in cultivar P3 (4.86%). Regarding the tractor forward speeds, the MD rate was 5.44% at speed S1 and increased to 6.01% at speed S2. Despite cultivar P3 exhibiting higher values of geometric mean diameter (GMD), tuber volume (TV), and tuber surface area (TSA), it demonstrated greater resistance to mechanical damage due to its lower MD rate. Based on the speed levels tested, it was concluded that the lower forward speed (S1) is preferable for harvesting, as it resulted in reduced mechanical damage compared to S2.