The local prototype developed for poppy harvesting was successfully tested in the field

A new prototype machine aimed at harvesting poppy capsules with less loss was developed in a study involving a researcher from Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. The machine was tested both in laboratory conditions and in field conditions.

A significant portion of poppy production in Turkey is carried out on small plots, and harvesting processes still largely rely on human labor. This situation increases the need for labor and can lead to capsule losses. The developed system aims to provide a mechanical solution to this problem, especially in small and medium-sized production areas.

In the prototype, brush systems that ensure the proper orientation of the plants were used together with a multi-stage cutting mechanism that allows the capsules to be separated from their stems in a controlled manner. The harvested capsules are then transferred to the collection section via a transport system. The actual structure of the prototype and field trials are detailed in the visuals on pages 4 and 5 of the article.

In experiments conducted on a total of 360 plant samples, the harvesting success of the prototype reached approximately %92. It was reported that capsule losses were kept below %8. The research also determined that the circular cutting system could operate with lower cutting force compared to traditional vertical cutting and contributed to the more controlled separation of the capsules.

The researchers state that the current prototype is still in the development phase and that manual guidance limits the field capacity. Future studies plan to develop the system to be attached to a tractor, work on multiple rows, and include automatic feeding features.

The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural Engineering.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jae.2026.1981