Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Comparative Study of Performance and Economics of Self Propelled Combine Harvester with Other Harvesting and Threshing Methods on Paddy Rice
by Harerimana Leonce, and D.C Saraswat

Abstract:
This research study was conducted in order to determine and compare the performance and economic characteristics of combinations of harvesting and threshing methods on paddy crop. This combinations characteristics elucidate theirs choose specific to scale of use and efficiency. The experiments were conducted in the farm of Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHIATS) in India. The treatments under the study were manual harvesting and threshing (T1), manual harvesting and power thresher (T2), tractor front mounted reaper for harvesting and power thresher (T3) and the combine harvesting (T4). The study has shown that there is significant different among the treatments with respect to grain loss, and cleaning efficiency. There is no significant difference in grain breakage and the threshing efficiency among the treatment. The economics of the harvesting and threshing was found to vary mainly with the methods, the intensity of the manpower and the annual scale of use of the machineries and the use of the byproducts and their ease in collection. The economics characteristics and the prevailing conditions should be considered to choose any methods. This is prescribed in the results of this study. It was concluded that there is an inherent advantage of harvesting machinery over the manual operation provided the area is above the breakeven point. It is necessary to maximize the use the machine. This research has shown that each method under investigation has specified application conditions where it is economically rational. It is believed that the rational choose is backed by technical performance efficiency and economics as transpired in this paper.

Keywords: combine harvester, harvesting, threshing, reaper, grain straw ratio, cleaning efficiency

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