Authors

Abstract

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is an important tree species for ecological restoration and the specialty forest-fruit industry in northern China. Its fruits possess high nutritional and economic value; however, harvesting operations still rely predominantly on manual labor because of the small fruit size, short pedicels, dense fruit clustering, thorny branches, and thin skin that is highly susceptible to mechanical damage. These limitations result in low harvesting efficiency and constitute a major bottleneck restricting large-scale industrial development. To systematically clarify these challenges and support the development of effective mechanized solutions, this review summarizes the physical and mechanical properties of sea buckthorn fruits and the agronomic requirements associated with mechanized harvesting. Furthermore, from the perspective of technological evolution, the study analyses the operating principles, research progress, and applicability of the main harvesting methods, including vibration-based harvesting, pneumatic harvesting, pruning-based harvesting, and whole branch-fruit harvesting systems, together with subsequent fruit detachment, cleaning, and sorting operations. The reviewed studies indicate that international research has primarily focused on cultivars suitable for mechanized harvesting, leading to technological approaches centered either on direct field harvesting or on post-harvest processing after whole branch-fruit collection. In China, significant progress has been achieved in optimizing vibration parameters for fruit detachment, developing low-damage cutting and conveying mechanisms, and improving freezing-assisted fruit detachment, cleaning, and sorting technologies. Nevertheless, several major challenges remain, including the limited availability of cultivars and planting systems suitable for mechanization, insufficient integration between agronomic practices and machinery design, and the relatively low level of intelligence and automation of harvesting equipment. Future research should therefore focus on the breeding of mechanization-oriented cultivars, the establishment of standardized cultivation systems, the development of low-damage and high-efficiency harvesting components, and the advancement of integrated intelligent harvesting equipment, thereby supporting technological innovation and the industrial application of mechanized sea buckthorn harvesting in China.

Abstract in Chinese

沙棘是我国北方生态修复与特色林果产业的关键树种，果实营养与经济价值高，但受果粒小、果柄短、簇生紧密、多刺、果皮薄易破损等制约，采收长期依赖人工，效率低下，已成为产业规模化发展的主要瓶颈。为系统梳理并推动解决该问题，本文归纳了沙棘果实的物理力学特性及其对机械化采收的农艺要求；进而从技术演进角度综述了国内外振动式、气吸式、剪枝式及枝果统收与脱果清选协同作业模式的工作机理、研究进展与适用性。研究表明，国外技术主要面向宜机化品种，形成了以田间直接采收和枝果统收后处理为主的技术体系；国内在振动脱果参数优化、低损伤切割输送、冷冻脱果清选等方面取得进展，但仍面临品种与种植模式宜机化基础薄弱；农机农艺融合不足及装备智能化水平偏低等问题。未来应重点围绕宜机化品种选育与标准化种植、低损伤高效采收部件、成套装备研发等方向开展研究，以期为我国沙棘机械化收获技术创新与产业化应用提供参考。