Research Progress on Castor Harvesting Technology and Equipment

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. In Table 1, the article compares the castor bean harvesting machinery at home and abroad. It is pointed out that there is a gap between domestic castor harvesting machinery and that of foreign countries (in lines 332-340). In the text, apart from the relatively late domestic research, it is necessary to focus on analyzing and delineating the reasons for the existing gap. Where are the technical difficulties? For the specific crop of castor, the current harvesting machinery has the defects of high impurity rate, low harvesting efficiency, and high breakage rate, which key technologies need to be overcome from the design perspective to improve these performances? As a review article, it is necessary to provide guidance on which technical aspects to conduct research in the future.
2. In section 6.2, the authors proposed the deep integration of agricultural machinery and agronomy for the mechanization of castor bean harvesting. At present, the technology of combined rice and wheat harvesting machinery is mature. Although the integration of agricultural machinery and agronomy for rice and wheat is not very close and the wheat varieties are not uniform. How can the fundamental theories, rich research experience and key technologies that have been overcome for the success of rice and wheat harvesting machinery be applied to the future research of castor harvesting machinery?
3. There are many long sentences in the article, such as lines 598-604. Please check the full text. It is suggested to avoid using too long expressions in the article.

Author Response

1. In Table 1, the article compares the castor bean harvesting machinery at home and abroad. It is pointed out that there is a gap between domestic castor harvesting machinery and that of foreign countries (in lines 332-340). In the text, apart from the relatively late domestic research, it is necessary to focus on analyzing and delineating the reasons for the existing gap. Where are the technical difficulties? For the specific crop of castor, the current harvesting machinery has the defects of high impurity rate, low harvesting efficiency, and high breakage rate, which key technologies need to be overcome from the design perspective to improve these performances? As a review article, it is necessary to provide guidance on which technical aspects to conduct research in the future.

Response: In section “3.3. Comparison and Analysis of Domestic and Foreign Equipment” of the manuscript, we made modifications, comparing and analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of castor harvesting machinery both China and internationally, while also pointing out the current issues with foreign castor harvesting machines. To promote the development of castor harvesting machinery in China, we highlighted the need to strengthen research on key component materials and structural optimization of castor picking platforms, castor threshing methods, and the structure and parameters of shelling and cleaning mechanisms. The modified content is as follows:

Comparative analysis of the current research status of castor harvesting machin-ery in China and abroad shows that the main types of harvester headers for castor harvesters include roller brush, cutting, and vibrating structures. The research on cas-tor harvesting machinery in China started relatively late, with only a small number of models suitable for actual castor production, while most of the castor harvesters are still in the experimental research stage. Compared with foreign castor combined har-vesters, there is still a certain gap in harvesting operation efficiency, intensification level, and harvesting efficiency. However, foreign castor combine harvesters can only harvest short-stalk castor and have issues such as significant collision losses. To pro-mote the development of castor harvesting machinery and equipment in China, future efforts need to strengthen research on key component materials and structural opti-mization of castor picking platforms, castor threshing methods, shelling and cleaning structures and parameters, providing technical support for improving the operational performance of castor harvesting equipment in China.

2. In section 6.2, the authors proposed the deep integration of agricultural machinery and agronomy for the mechanization of castor bean harvesting. At present, the technology of combined rice and wheat harvesting machinery is mature. Although the integration of agricultural machinery and agronomy for rice and wheat is not very close and the wheat varieties are not uniform. How can the fundamental theories, rich research experience and key technologies that have been overcome for the success of rice and wheat harvesting machinery be applied to the future research of castor harvesting machinery?

Response: In section 6.2 of the manuscript, the integration of agricultural machinery and agronomy mainly refers to the dwarfing of castor varieties, compact plant types, and uniform planting row spacing, which are suitable for mechanized harvesting. Currently, the castor plants grown in China are approximately 1.3-1.6 meters tall, and they are harvested in a row-by-row manner. Therefore, different planting row spacings will directly affect the harvesting operation. Wheat and rice are harvested using reciprocating cutter bars and non-row harvesting operations, and the theoretical research on related harvesting machinery is relatively mature. Castor plants are thicker and have a higher degree of lignification, so they are generally harvested using disc cutter bars or comb-type row harvesting, which differs significantly from other harvesting methods. However, the key technologies related to threshing and cleaning can be applied to castor harvesting. Additionally, part (2) of section 6.2 has been revised.

3. There are many long sentences in the article, such as lines 598-604. Please check the full text. It is suggested to avoid using too long expressions in the article.

Response: The entire manuscript has been checked, and relevant long sentences have been modified, such as lines 37-48, 590-595, 599-603, 604-608, 637-642, 655-666, and 673-678.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Generally, I prefer a more concise and systematic presentation of papers like this. Please see the attached for some more comments

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The quality of English is average, or sufficiently good to convey the intended message in a way that it is understandable to the majority of readers

Author Response

1. In abstract, please review and make it more concise.

Response: Revise and refine the abstract portion of the manuscript to convey the content more succinctly and clearly.

2. Many of the sentences are too long. Some sentences are up to 7 lines. Please break those sentences to 2 or 3.

Response: The entire manuscript has been checked, and relevant long sentences have been revised, such as lines 37-48, 590-595, 599-603, 604-608, 637-642, 655-666, and 673-678.

3. Castor seeders mainly improve and optimize crops with similar seed shapes such as corn or cotton, and then design according to different varieties and regional planting row spacing to achieve sowing operations for castor. (REFERENCE?) I think the statement is in the wrong place.

Response: The manuscript contained inaccuracies, which have been revised. The size of castor seeds is similar to that of corn seeds, so China's castor seeders currently draw on the technology of corn seeders. The relevant content has been revised as follows: The castor seeder mainly draws on corn seeding technology, as the seed size is close to that of castor seeds. It is then designed according to different varieties and regional planting row spacing to achieve the seeding operation for castor.

4. In section 2.2, “Currently, there are many castor bean varieties cultivated in our country, including both annual and perennial types.” Which country?

Response: The text refers to China, and the relevant content of the manuscript has been checked and revised. The relevant content has been revised as follows: Currently, there are many castor varieties cultivated in China, including both annual and perennial types.

5. In section “2.2.1. Combined (grain) harvesting operation”. No single paper was cited!

Response: Castor combined harvesting and segmented harvesting are classified by the author based on common crop harvesting methods. Combined harvesting refers to the machine achieving seeds harvesting directly in the field, while segmented harvesting involves first harvesting castor fruit and then shelling and cleaning to achieve seeds harvesting. The castor harvesting machinery used in China is mainly segmented harvesting. Currently, there is no relevant research on castor combined harvesting and segmented harvesting.

6. In section 2.2.2. Staggered Harvesting. 1. Is it the same as segmented harvesting? If yes, please be consistent. 2. Missing citations.

Response: The text has been revised, referring to segmented harvesting. References were added at the end of the paragraph.

7. In section 3 Current Research Status of Castor Bean Harvesting Technology. No citations.

Response: The text has been revised, references were added at the end of the paragraph.

8. In Table 1 Comparison of domestic and foreign castor bean harvesters. No citations/references.

Response: The Table has been revised with relevant references added.

9. Line 413- 436, Some authors were mentioned. Please cite properly.

Response: The relevant content has been revised.

10. Current research status, bit you didn’t cite the authors Please read through the paper. In a review paper all major findings on the topic that is being presented must be attributed to right authors.

Response: The entire manuscript has been checked and revised, and the relevant citations that were non-standard or inaccurate have been corrected.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please make the notes outlined in the PDF file and these notes

 

 

• The abstract has no important results?
• Alt of references Error! Reference source not found...? Please be careful to revision all references and review?
• Indicate Cultivated Area in China?
• Indicate Annual Production in China?
• Indicate Top Global Producer?
• You should mention all (Airflow Speed in Cleaning Devices, Frequency, Inclination Angle, Sieve Opening Size, Clearance Between Rollers and Concave (Threshing Drum Clearance))?
• In figure 1 you should put on lift ton or real unit and in bottom years, and delete volume from import may put ?
• In 2020 not logically import more than consumption ? Please revision it?
• In line 147 you should begin from 31 not (39,32)?
• Please reorder all references and revision all?
• Figure 3, must be after words refer to not before words?
• In line 178 ten rows should be eight rows as picture three indicate?
• Please replace reference 37 and lines from 186-192 by lines related to reference 35 it is better, and you can summarize?

delete

The Italian agricultural machinery manufacturer Fantini S.r.l. collaborated with the Israeli biotechnology company Evofuel to design a specialized castor bean harvesting platform. Results from field trials conducted over two consecutive years (2017-2018) in Israel indicated a significant reduction in harvesting loss from previous high of 50% to as low as 5%, showcasing the efficacy of this platform, which is specifically designed for Evofuel’s proprietary castor bean variety aimed at mechanized harvesting, and is currently still in the experimental research phase [37].

 

put

New Holland CX8060 (New Holland, PA, USA) combine harvester was used

throughout the test. The cleaning shoe was set as follows: threshing drum 600 r.p.m.,

concave clearance 10 mm, fan speed 700 r.p.m., upper sieve clearance 9 mm, and lower

sieve clearance 9 mm. The setting was kept constant throughout the trial for both

treatments (cereal header and sunflower header). Approximately half of the field was harvested after equipping the combine harvester with a 5.5 m wide New Holland cereal header. Then, the machinery was stopped, and a 4 m wide Fantini (Mantova, Italy) sunflower header was installed instead. Consequently, the second half of the field was harvested. The average working speed of the combine harvester was 2.3 km h⁻¹,

corresponding to an effective field capacity (EFC) of 1.03 ha h⁻¹, with a fuel consumption

of 21.27 l h⁻¹. This low value of EFC is related to the small dimensions of the experimental

field which negatively influenced the turning time of the machinery [35] .

 

• You must put figure 5 directly before referring to figure 6?
• You must put figure 7 directly before referring to figure 8?
• Picking process, must be harvesting process in line 322 and all review?
• Line 359 reference 49 two times?
• You must put figure 10 directly before referring to figure 11?
• 56 ,58 Why did you not name 58 to be 57 it is logical sequences?
• You must put figure 12 directly before referring to figure 13 and so on all review?
• Please, revision all words refer to figure and put figure after referring in all review?
• In line 474 delete camellia seeds it is duplicate in line 475.
• How do figs 16, 17 before referring to?
• as example 45 not find the research? Please revision ?
• Revision all reference and source because as example 79 (Study on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of the Air-Sifting Shelling Device for Castor Bean) did not find it.?
• Replace all castor bean sheller by castor fruit sheller. From my opinion fruit make sheller and hulling for it not bean?
• Replace the chart below in line 94 by Figure 1?

 

Please make the notes outlined in the PDF file and these notes

 

 

• The abstract has no important results?
• Alt of references Error! Reference source not found...? Please be careful to revision all references and review?
• Indicate Cultivated Area in China?
• Indicate Annual Production in China?
• Indicate Top Global Producer?
• You should mention all (Airflow Speed in Cleaning Devices, Frequency, Inclination Angle, Sieve Opening Size, Clearance Between Rollers and Concave (Threshing Drum Clearance))?
• In figure 1 you should put on lift ton or real unit and in bottom years, and delete volume from import may put ?
• In 2020 not logically import more than consumption ? Please revision it?
• In line 147 you should begin from 31 not (39,32)?
• Please reorder all references and revision all?
• Figure 3, must be after words refer to not before words?
• In line 178 ten rows should be eight rows as picture three indicate?
• Please replace reference 37 and lines from 186-192 by lines related to reference 35 it is better, and you can summarize?

delete

The Italian agricultural machinery manufacturer Fantini S.r.l. collaborated with the Israeli biotechnology company Evofuel to design a specialized castor bean harvesting platform. Results from field trials conducted over two consecutive years (2017-2018) in Israel indicated a significant reduction in harvesting loss from previous high of 50% to as low as 5%, showcasing the efficacy of this platform, which is specifically designed for Evofuel’s proprietary castor bean variety aimed at mechanized harvesting, and is currently still in the experimental research phase [37].

 

put

New Holland CX8060 (New Holland, PA, USA) combine harvester was used

throughout the test. The cleaning shoe was set as follows: threshing drum 600 r.p.m.,

concave clearance 10 mm, fan speed 700 r.p.m., upper sieve clearance 9 mm, and lower

sieve clearance 9 mm. The setting was kept constant throughout the trial for both

treatments (cereal header and sunflower header). Approximately half of the field was harvested after equipping the combine harvester with a 5.5 m wide New Holland cereal header. Then, the machinery was stopped, and a 4 m wide Fantini (Mantova, Italy) sunflower header was installed instead. Consequently, the second half of the field was harvested. The average working speed of the combine harvester was 2.3 km h⁻¹,

corresponding to an effective field capacity (EFC) of 1.03 ha h⁻¹, with a fuel consumption

of 21.27 l h⁻¹. This low value of EFC is related to the small dimensions of the experimental

field which negatively influenced the turning time of the machinery [35] .

 

• You must put figure 5 directly before referring to figure 6?
• You must put figure 7 directly before referring to figure 8?
• Picking process, must be harvesting process in line 322 and all review?
• Line 359 reference 49 two times?
• You must put figure 10 directly before referring to figure 11?
• 56 ,58 Why did you not name 58 to be 57 it is logical sequences?
• You must put figure 12 directly before referring to figure 13 and so on all review?
• Please, revision all words refer to figure and put figure after referring in all review?
• In line 474 delete camellia seeds it is duplicate in line 475.
• How do figs 16, 17 before referring to?
• as example 45 not find the research? Please revision ?
• Revision all reference and source because as example 79 (Study on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of the Air-Sifting Shelling Device for Castor Bean) did not find it.?
• Replace all castor bean sheller by castor fruit sheller. From my opinion fruit make sheller and hulling for it not bean?
• Replace the chart below in line 94 by Figure 1?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

1. The abstract has no important results?

Response: The abstract section in the text has been revised, and the development direction of castor harvesting equipment in China has been summarized.

2. Alt of references Error! Reference source not found...? Please be careful to revision all references and review?

Response: The references in the text have been fully verified, some references have been replaced, and some references are translations of Chinese literature.

3. Line 70: “at home and abroad”. Needs to be revised.

Response: The relevant content has been revised “in China and aboard”.

4. Indicate Cultivated Area in China? Indicate Annual Production in China? Indicate Top Global Producer?

Response: China's current castor cultivation area is relatively small, with only limited cultivation. As there are no official statistics on production figures or areas from the state's agricultural department, this aspect is not detailed in the manuscript. However, China's consumption and import quantities of castor oil are quite substantial, as evidenced by data available on the General Administration of Customs website. Thus, the manuscript presents recent data pertinent to China.

5. Replace the chart below in line 94 by Figure 1?

Response: The content has been revised “The data in the Figure 1 shows that”.

6. In figure 1 you should put on lift ton or real unit and in bottom years, and delete volume from import may put?

Response: The description in Figure 1 is inaccurate. The figure has been revised to show that both imports and consumption are quantities, and a legend for the horizontal axis indicating the years has been added.

7. In 2020 not logically import more than consumption? Please revision it?

Response:

The data depicted in the figure were obtained from the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China. It is reasonable that the import quantity in 2020 exceeded the total consumption, indicating a higher stockpile during that year. Moreover, 2020 was during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a certain impact on consumption.

8. Line 103: “In our country”. Needs to be revised.

Response: The content has been revised “In China”.

9. Line 111: “all in one go”. Needs to be revised.

Response: The content has been revised “all in one”.

10. In line 147 you should begin from 31 not (39,32)?

Response: The references has been revised “[31,32]”.

11. Figure 3, must be after words refer to not before words?

Response: The position of Figure 3 in the manuscript has been revised and placed after the corresponding textual description.

12. In line 178 ten rows should be eight rows as picture three indicate?

Response: Figure 3 shows an 8-row castor harvester, and Line 162 in the manuscript has been revised.

13. Please replace reference 37 and lines from 186-192 by lines related to reference 35 it is better, and you can summarize?

Response: The content in the text has been revised and summarized based on the references. The relevant content has been revised as follows: The Italian researchers, Stefanoni et al., conducted trials on castor harvest with a combined harvesting machine equipped with both grain cutting platforms and sunflower cutting platforms. A New Holland CX8060 (New Holland, PA, USA) combine harvest-er was used throughout the test. During the harvesting operation, the forward speed of the harvester was 2.3 km/h, and the parameters of the cleaning shoe were set to rea-sonable values. The experimental results confirmed the hypothesis that using a sun-flower header for mechanical harvesting of castor seeds would reduce seed loss. In fact, the sunflower header showed significantly lower header collision losses compared to the grain header. [37].

14. Line 200: “…with an 80 kW power supply…”. Needs to be revised.

Response: The content has been revised “…with 80 kW power supply…”.

15. You must put figure 5 directly before referring to figure 6? You must put figure 7 directly before referring to figure 8?

Response: The position of Figure in the manuscript has been revised.

16. line232-233, there is an error that needs to be revised.

Response: Errors in the component introduction has been revised, according to the order depicted in the diagram.

17. The statement on line 252 is inaccurate.

Response: The content has been revised as “the height difference of the average cutting stubble is 0.85 mm”.

18. As example 45 not find the research? Please revision?

Response: The relevant reference 45 has been revised.

19. Picking process, must be harvesting process in line 322 and all review?

Response: The expression in the manuscript was inaccurate and has been revised to "the harvesting process."

20. Line 359 reference 49 two times?

Response: The relevant reference has been revised 48 and 49.

21. You must put figure 10 directly before referring to figure 11?

Response: The position of Figure in the manuscript has been revised and placed after the corresponding textual description.

22. 56 ,58 Why did you not name 58 to be 57 it is logical sequences?

Response: The expression in the manuscript was inaccurate and the relevant reference has been revised 56 and 57.

23. You must put figure 12 directly before referring to figure 13 and so on all review?

Response: The position of Figure in the manuscript has been revised and placed after the corresponding textual description.

24. Please, revision all words refer to figure and put figure after referring in all review?

Response: The position of Figure in the manuscript has been revised and placed after the corresponding textual description.

25. In line 474 delete camellia seeds it is duplicate in line 475.

Response: The relevant reference has been revised, deleted “camellia seeds”.

26. Explain the meaning of water separation in line 464?

Response: It refers to the use of the different densities of fruits and shells in water, with the fruits sinking to the bottom and the shells floating on the surface, and then separating them. However, this method is not applicable to castor fruit.

27. How do figs 16, 17 before referring to?

Response: In the manuscript, figures 16 and 17 have been adjusted.

28. Replace all castor bean sheller by castor fruit sheller. From my opinion fruit make sheller and hulling for it not bean?

Response: The entire manuscript has been checked and revised, and the expressions related to castor fruit and castor seed have been distinguished.

29. You should mention all (Airflow Speed in Cleaning Devices, Frequency, Inclination Angle, Sieve Opening Size, Clearance Between Rollers and Concave (Threshing Drum Clearance))?

Response: The technical parameters of the cleaning equipment introduced in the manuscript are based on those obtained from the papers published by existing researchers, and are summarized and introduced.

30. Please reorder all references and revision all?

Response: All references in the manuscript have been checked and revised.

31. In line 672-673, What is mean?

Response: This paragraph is redundant and has been deleted from the manuscript.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I am glad that all my comments and concerns were addressed in the reviewed version. However, subjecting the manuscript to English language editing will enhance its quality.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Subjecting the manuscript to English language editing will enhance its quality.

Author Response

1、I am glad that all my comments and concerns were addressed in the reviewed version. However, subjecting the manuscript to English language editing will enhance its quality.

Response:

Thank you for your feedback on our manuscript; we have actively considered your suggestions and have made the necessary revisions. The manuscript has been edited for English language, and relevant content has been revised to enhance accuracy and improve its quality.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

Report for revised version

• Picking not scientific terms you must replace it in abstract and all review by harvesting if it indicates harvesting by machine if by manual hand picking, ok?
• Indicate Top Global Producer?
• You should mention all (Airflow Speed in Cleaning Devices, Frequency, Inclination Angle, Sieve Opening Size, Clearance Between Rollers and Concave (Threshing Drum Clearance))?
• In figure 1 you should put on lift kt (k  small not capital) ?
• Figure 3 and all paragraph indicate figure three must put reference I exam reference 36 it is not for figure 3?
• Where do you refer to fig 6?
• Where do you refer to table 1?
• Points at line 424 should be deleted?
• Revision all reference and source because as example 79 (Study on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of the Air-Sifting Shelling Device for Castor Bean) did not find it.?
• Revision all reference and source because as example 34 (Investigating the Mechanism of Vibration-Based Harvesting for Castor Bean Pods and Performance Optimization 770 of Harvesting Devices) did not find it nor. DOI:79110.27440/d.cnki.gysdu.2023.000052.?

Author Response

1. Picking not scientific terms you must replace it in abstract and all review by harvesting if it indicates harvesting by machine if by manual hand picking, ok?

Response: The expression in the manuscript was not standardized and the relevant content has been revised, changing 'picking' to 'harvesting'.

2. Indicate Top Global Producer?

Response: The three countries with the largest castor planting areas are India, China, and Brazil. India has the largest planting areas and the highest castor oil import quantity. For specific details, please refer to reference 33.

3. You should mention all (Airflow Speed in Cleaning Devices, Frequency, Inclination Angle, Sieve Opening Size, Clearance Between Rollers and Concave (Threshing Drum Clearance))?

Response: The relevant content has been revised as follows: Setting the sieve openings in the upper and lower sieve to 17 mm and 10 mm respectively, and the fan speed to 800 r.p.m; with the threshing drum of rotation speed set at 400 r.p.m and the clearance values at 10 mm, the harvesting operation is most effective. However, the results showed that the collision losses from the combine harvester's harvesting platform were significant and cannot be ignored [38].

4. In figure 1 you should put on lift kt (k small not capital)?

Response: In Figure 1, the unit markings were inaccurate; the relevant content has been revised.

5. Figure 3 and all paragraph indicate figure three must put reference I exam reference 36 it is not for figure 3?

Response: In line 159-170, describes the Brazilian roller brush type castor harvester shown in Figure 3. Reference 36 is marked on line 170.

6. Where do you refer to fig 6?

Response: In line 216-217, indicated the relevant content of Figure 6. Through the experimental study on the roller brush test bench shown in Figure 6, the accuracy of the simulation model was verified.

7. Where do you refer to table 1?

Response: In line 316, the relevant content has been revised as “As shown in Table 1”. Section 3.3 is a description and summary of the relevant content in Table 1.

8. Points at line 424 should be deleted?

Response: In line 421, the relevant content has been revised as follows: …which can improve the cleaning rate by 4.38%.

9. Revision all reference and source because as example 79 (Study on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of the Air-Sifting Shelling Device for Castor Bean) did not find it.?

Response: Reference 79 in the manuscript is a Chinese paper. The translation of the title in the paper differs from the original, which has been verified and revised. The DOI number of the paper can be queried on CNKI, accessible via the website: https://www.cnki.net/.

10. Revision all reference and source because as example 34 (Investigating the Mechanism of Vibration-Based Harvesting for Castor Bean Pods and Performance Optimization 770 of Harvesting Devices) did not find it nor. DOI: 79110.27440/d.cnki.gysdu.2023.000052.?

Response: Reference 34 is a Chinese doctoral dissertation, and the DOI number of the dissertation can be queried on CNKI, accessible via the website: https://www.cnki.net/.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf