Publication Date
1993
Description
Temperate zone herbage seed harvesting continues to evolve round combine•harvesters designed principally for large-seeded grain and pulse crops. Most research emphasis has been placed on increasing efficiency of systems for presenting the crop to the auger platform. Timing of harvest, precutting treatment, cutting and pickup alternatives including airblast assistance vary in relation to species and environmental conditions. With the development of drying-cooling systems considerable advantages in the harvesting and processing of grass seed have occurred. An understanding of the range and use of seed cleaning equipment available to meet purity standards is given, along with additional options to meet end.user preferences. Tropical pasture seed harvesting has been mechanised mainly in Australia and Brazil, primarily by use of combine harvesters, but also through mowing and "sweating", beater systems, brush harvesters, pneumatic harvesters and exhumation. The capability of combine harvesters has improved progressively with time with increases in engine power and capacity and introduction of hydrostatic drive. Grasses too tall for combining are mown and sweated. Beaters, and more recently upward rotating brush systems, are used on short chaffy grass seeds. Suction harvesters take fallen seed of legumes, predominantly stylos, in seasonally dry districts. A forage peanut is mechanically exhumed and separated. The advantages of mechanisation are in terms of speed, cost and manpower, but the price has often been low recovery efficiency and sometimes low quality resulting from mechanical damage. Attention to these drawbacks has resulted in major yield improvements.
Citation
Hopkinson, J M. and Clifford, P.T P., "Mechanical Harvesting and Processing of Temperate Zone and Tropical Pasture Seed" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 2.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session49/2
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Mechanical Harvesting and Processing of Temperate Zone and Tropical Pasture Seed
Temperate zone herbage seed harvesting continues to evolve round combine•harvesters designed principally for large-seeded grain and pulse crops. Most research emphasis has been placed on increasing efficiency of systems for presenting the crop to the auger platform. Timing of harvest, precutting treatment, cutting and pickup alternatives including airblast assistance vary in relation to species and environmental conditions. With the development of drying-cooling systems considerable advantages in the harvesting and processing of grass seed have occurred. An understanding of the range and use of seed cleaning equipment available to meet purity standards is given, along with additional options to meet end.user preferences. Tropical pasture seed harvesting has been mechanised mainly in Australia and Brazil, primarily by use of combine harvesters, but also through mowing and "sweating", beater systems, brush harvesters, pneumatic harvesters and exhumation. The capability of combine harvesters has improved progressively with time with increases in engine power and capacity and introduction of hydrostatic drive. Grasses too tall for combining are mown and sweated. Beaters, and more recently upward rotating brush systems, are used on short chaffy grass seeds. Suction harvesters take fallen seed of legumes, predominantly stylos, in seasonally dry districts. A forage peanut is mechanically exhumed and separated. The advantages of mechanisation are in terms of speed, cost and manpower, but the price has often been low recovery efficiency and sometimes low quality resulting from mechanical damage. Attention to these drawbacks has resulted in major yield improvements.
