A new method for removing perennial plants is presented in this paper. It consists of using a clamp type of tool that is attached to a plant and pulled by a tractor. A study was conducted in Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in February of 1984 with a 12 year old coffee plantation on Dusk Red Latosol. The average effort required for coffee plants uprooting was 2,127kgf/plant for C. canephora L. cv. Robusta and 1,158kgf/plant for C. arabica L. cv. Mundo Novo. Among the several systems tested, the best was the use of three clamps applying individual effort in a successive remotion of three plants in one unique operation. This system had the advantage of smaller soil movement than the traditional use of bulldozer. The use of a 100hp wheel tractor was feasible for this system, and it presented a good performance of operation.
coffee; plant uprooting; implement