FEATURES OF HARVESTING SUGAR BEET IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS

Sugar beet harvesting is often carried out in difficult soil and climatic conditions. The work of the Ropa sugar beet harvester was studied in dry and hard soil conditions, and the prospects for improving the digging working elements for such operating conditions were assessed. Qualitative indicators for digging sugar beet are given. The following harvesting conditions were established: the average number of root crops per linear meter was 4.3 pcs., with variations from 3 to 6 pcs., the average diameter of the root crop in the zone of its maximum thickening was 146 mm, with variations from 63 to 184 mm, the average technical length of the root crop was 244 mm, with variations from 181 to 269 mm, the average taper of the root crop was 28.4 degrees, with variations from 22 to 30.4 degrees, the maximum height of the protrusion of the heads of root crops above the soil was 78 mm, with variations from 24 to 78 mm, soil moisture was 13.4%, soil hardness was 0.37-0.61 MPa, machine speed was 2 m / s, the depth of the digger was 6 cm. It was found that with an increase in soil hardness, the loss of root crop mass increases and reaches 16.3%, which significantly exceeds level established by agrotechnical requirements. When digging up sugar beet roots in dry and hard soil, general and severe damage increases and exceeds the levels established by agrotechnical requirements. General contamination, contamination with plant residues and contamination with soil exceeds the level established by agrotechnical requirements at a hardness of more than 0.35 MPa. Constructive improvement of the topcutting, digging and separating working bodies of the sugar beet harvester with subsequent optimization of its operating modes must be carried out to improve the quality indicators of digging up sugar beet roots.