Carrot harvester facts for kids
A carrot harvester is a special farm machine. It helps farmers pick many carrots from the ground quickly. These machines can pick one to six rows of carrots at the same time! They make harvesting much easier than picking by hand.
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Carrot Harvesters: Machines That Pick Carrots!
Carrot harvesters are amazing machines. They are designed to carefully remove carrots from the soil. Some harvesters attach to a tractor. Others are pulled behind a tractor. There are also "self-propelled" harvesters. These machines can drive themselves, just like a car!
How Do Carrot Harvesters Work?
Carrot harvesters get carrots from the ground in two main ways. The way they work depends on their type. Let's explore how each type operates.
Top Lifters: Grabbing Carrots by Their Tops
One type of harvester is called a top lifter. These machines use strong rubber belts. The belts grab the green leafy tops of the carrot plants. They gently pull the carrots right out of the soil. A special part, called a "share," also pushes under the carrot root. This helps to loosen the plant from the ground.
Once the carrots are pulled up, the machine takes them inside. The green tops are cut off. These tops are then sent away as waste. They are dropped back onto the field. This helps to return nutrients to the soil.
Another type of harvester is known as a share lifter. These machines use a "share" to scoop the carrots. The share goes underneath the carrots. It lifts them out of the ground. Before a share lifter can work, another machine must cut off the green tops. This is called "topping."
After being scooped, the carrots travel along a long conveyor belt. This belt is often called a "web." It helps to shake off extra soil. This way, the carrots are cleaner when they leave the machine.
Cleaning and Collecting Carrots
No matter the type, all carrot harvesters clean the carrots. They use one or more webs or belts. These parts shake off most of the soil. This makes the carrots ready for storage or transport.
After cleaning, the carrots are collected. Some harvesters have a storage tank right on the machine. Other harvesters drop the carrots into a trailer. This trailer is pulled alongside the machine by another tractor. This allows for continuous harvesting.
