DETERMINATION OF FREQUENCY PROPERTIES OF JATROPHA CURCAS FRUITS STALK FOR MECHANICAL HARVESTING OPERATIONS

Jatropha curcas is a multipurpose bush or a small tree belonging to the family of Euphorbiaceae is gaining lot ofimportance for the production of biodiesel. It is a plant with many attributes, multiple uses and considerable potentials. It is atropical plant that grows up to a height of 3 - 5 meters and has a productive life of 50 years. It is resistant to a high degree ofdrought (it can be plant even in the wasteland) and as such does not compete with food crops. The seeds contain 40% oilthat can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel, usable in a standard diesel engine. Seeds are ready forharvesting around 90 days after flowering when the fruits have changed from green to yellow-brown colour. The harvestingof the Jatropha fruits is a difficult process due to the ripening characteristics of the Jatropha fruits. Harvesting machinery hasbeen developed in order to harvest the Jatropha fruit, but the machine is not only harvest the fruit but also damaging thetree. Leaves, twigs and unripe fruits were harvested together with a low percentage of ripe fruits. To solve this problem, thisstudy is being conducted to find the best vibration frequency for the ripe fruit to detach upon being shaken by a mechanicaldevice without detach the unripe fruit and damaging the tree.