Review of combine harvester losses for maize and influencing factors

Keru Wang, Ruizhi Xie, Bo Ming, Peng Hou, Jun Xue, Shaokun Li

Abstract


The high harvest losses associated with the mechanical harvesting of maize in China are currently a major barrier to the adoption of this technology. This paper summarizes works of literature regarding harvest losses from the combine harvesting of maize in China and abroad. The main findings are as follows: (1) In 2012-2019, 2987 samples data obtained from the major maize production areas of China showed that the average harvest loss was 345.2 kg/hm2 (3.5% of the average yield), with losses ranging from 0 to 9288.5 kg/hm2; (2) The harvest losses from combine harvesting are mainly caused by the dropping of ears. The ear losses include the pre-harvest loss caused by ear abscission, damage caused by maize borer, lodging, and the ear loss during combine harvesting, and the main pre-harvest loss is caused by lodging; (3) Harvest losses are affected by maize variety, planting mode, cultivation management, pests and diseases, weather conditions during harvesting, harvest date, combine harvester type, harvester adjustment, operator proficiency, and the terrain conditions of the maize field; (4) The harvest losses from combine harvesting are also related to the type of header, feeding and threshing methods, the adjustment of header stripping clearance, feeding amount, forward speed, cylinder or rotor speed, and the clearance between the cylinder and the concave of the harvester. However, the combine losses mainly come from header losses. In order to reduce the harvest losses, the following solutions were proposed: (1) Breed and select maize varieties which are resistant to lodging, especially during the field drying of mature grains, as well as those resistant to maize borer and stalk rot; (2) Select varieties suitable for grain harvest—which requires matching the accumulated-temperature demand of the maize hybrids, optimal plant density, row spacing, and irrigation and fertilizer management with the light and heat conditions of the production area while cultivating uniform populations and healthy plants—as well as preventing and controlling damage from maize borer, stalk rot, and ear rot, harvesting at the appropriate time; (3) Develop and select advanced maize combine harvesters, formulate standardized operating procedures for harvesting machinery, and standardize field operation; (4) select appropriate agricultural machinery and agronomic practices, and improve the training of maize producers and harvester operators.
Keywords: maize, grain, combine harvest, ear dropping, kernel dropping, harvest loss, influence factors
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20211401.6034

Citation: Wang K R, Xie R Z, Ming B, Hou P, Xue J, Li S K. Review of combine harvester losses for maize and influencing factors. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2021; 14(1): 1–10.

Keywords


maize, grain, combine harvest, ear dropping, kernel dropping, harvest loss, influence factors

Full Text:

PDF

References


Li S K, Zhao J R, Dong S T, Zhao M, Li C H, Cui Y H, et al. Advances and prospects of maize cultivation in China. Sci Agric Sin, 2017; 50(11): 1941–1959. (in Chinese)

Li L L, Xue J, Xie R Z, Wang K R, Hou P, Zhang F L, et al. Effects of grain moisture content on mechanical grain harvesting quality of summer corn. Acta Agron Sin, 2018; 44(12): 1747–1754. (in Chinese)

Gao W, Chen Z, Huang Y X, Yang M L. Analysis of influencing factors on farmers’ adoption of maize mechanized harvesting in Jilin Province. Transaction of the CSAM, 2012; 43(S1): 175–179, 168. (in Chinese)

Pan W G, Gong Z L, Lu H Y. Factors analysis on producers’ application of mechanized maize harvesting: based on empirical research of Shandong Province. China Agric Sci Bull, 2014; 30(14): 165–172. (in Chinese)

Guo Y Q, Chai Z W, Wang K R, Xie R Z, Tang Q X, Liu G Z, et al. Corn harvest methods and benefit analysis. J Agric, 2017; 7(12): 8–11. (in Chinese)

Hilbert J H. Machine and machine operator characteristics associated with corn harvest kernel damage. PhD dissertation. Ames: Iowa State University, 1972; 142p.

Waelti H, Buchele W F, Farrell M. Progress report on losses associated with corn harvesting in Iowa. J Agric Eng Res, 1969; 14(2): 134–138.

Ayres G E, Babcock C E, Hull D O. Corn combine field performance in Iowa. In: Grain Damage Symposium, Columbus: The Ohio State University, 1972; pp.1–17.

David J W, Rossman E C. Mechanical harvest of corn at different plant populations. Agron J, 1956; 48(9): 394–397.

Byg D M, Hall G E. Corn losses and kernel damage in field shelling. Trans ASAE, 1968; 11(2): 164–166.

Mahmoud A R, Buchele W F. Distribution of shelled corn throughput and mechanical damage in a combine cylinder. Transactions of the ASAE, 1975; 18(3): 448–452.

Nolte B H, Byg D M, Gill W E. Timely field operations for corn and soybeans in Ohio. Bull. Ohio Coop. Ext. Serv., Columbus, 1976; 605p.

Allen R R, Musick J T, Hollingsworth L D. Topping corn and delaying harvest for field drying. Trans ASAE, 1982; 25: 1529–1532.

Gleim J A, Holmes R G, Wood R K. Corn and soybean harvesting losses. American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 1990. Paper No. 90-1563; ISSN: 0149–9890.

Hanna H M. Machine losses from conventional versus narrow row corn harvest. Appl Eng Agric, 2002; 18(4): 405–409.

Haun W. Harvest aids for corn and soybeans. Corn Newsletter, 2009; 33: 282205. doi: 10.22004/ag.econ.282205.

Klenke J R, Russell W A, Guthrie W D. Grain yield reduction caused by second generation European corn borer in BS9 corn synthetic. Crop Sci, 1986; 26(5): 859–863.

Stanger T F, Lauer J G. Corn stalk response to plant population and the Bt-European corn Borer trait. Agron J, 2007; 99: 657–664.

Zhang D, Liu J, Chui T, Li Y L. Effects of different row space on corn yield and machinery harvesting losses. ASABE Annual international meeting. Grand sierra resort and casino reno, Nevada, 2009; 096178. doi: 10.13031/2013.27074.

Piggott S. Simulation of corn in field drydown. Master dissertation. East Lansing: Biosystems Engineering, Michigan State University, 2010; 59p.

Thomison P R, Mullen R W, Lipps P E, Doerge T, Geyer A B. Corn response to harvest date as affected by plant population and hybrid. Agron J, 2011; 103(6): 1765–1772.

Mahoney K J, Klapwyk J H, Stewart G A, Scott Jay W, Hooker D C. Agronomic management strategies to reduce the yield loss associated with spring harvested corn in Ontario. American J Plant Sci, 2015; 6(2): 372–384.

Paulsen M R, Kalita P K, Rausch K D. Postharvest losses due to harvesting operations in developing countries: A review. In: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting, 2015; 152176663. doi: 10.13031/aim.20152176663.

Wang L, Feng G, Li Y Y, Jing X Q, Huang C L. Relationship between maize lodging resistance and agronomic traits, plant diseases, and insect pests. Crops, 2016; 2: 83–88. (in Chinese)

Fu J, Chen Z, Han L, Ren L. Review of grain threshing theory and technology. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(3): 12–19.

Sumner P E, Williams E J. Measuring field losses from grain combines. The University of Georgia Cooperation Extension, 2012; Bulletin 973.

Paulsen M R, Pinto F A C, Jr D G S, Zandonadi R, Ruffato S, Costa A, et al. Measurement of combine losses for corn and soybeans in Brazil. In: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting, 2013; 30(6): 131570965. doi: 10.13031/ aim.20131570965.

Chai Z W, Wang K R, Guo Y Q, Xie R Z, Li L L, Ming B, et al. Current status of corn mechanical grain harvesting and its relationship with grain moisture content. Sci Agric Sin, 2017; 50(11): 2036–2043. (in Chinese)

Guo Y, Zhang P, Li X F, Zhu J F. Study on yield loss of maize during harvesting in China—based on the surveys in 5 counties of 5 provinces. J Maize Sci, 2018; 26(5): 130–136. (in Chinese)

Wiersma J, Allrich T. Grain harvest losses. 2005; Available: http://www.smallgrains.org/Techfile/Sept78.htm. Accessed on [2005-09-25].

General administration of quality supervision and quarantine of the People’s Republic of China and China National Standardization Administration. Technical conditions of corn harvesting machinery: GB/T 21962-2008.

Johnson W H, Lamp B J, Henry J E, Hall G E. Corn harvesting performance at various dates. Transactions of the ASAE, 1963; 6(3): 268–272.

Paulsen M, Pinto F, de Sena Jr D G, Zandonadi R, Ruffato S, Costa A, et al. Measurement of combine losses for corn and soybeans in Brazil. Appl Eng Agric, 2014; 30(6): 841–855.

Li S K. Factors affecting the quality of maize grain mechanical harvest and the development trend of grain harvest technology. J Shihezi Univ (Nat Sci), 2017; 35(3): 265-272. (in Chinese)

Shay C W, Ellis L V, Hires W G. Measuring and reducing corn harvesting losses. Agricultural Guide: University of Missouri Columbia Extension Division, 1983; 1280p.

Minyo R, Geyer A, Thomison P, Bishop B, Lohnes D G. Ohio corn performance trials. Dep. of Horticulture and Crop Sci. Ser. 2015. Columbus: Ohio State Univ. OSUE/OARDC. Available: http://hostedweb.cfaes.ohio-state.edu/perf/archive.htm. Accessed on [2015-02-13]

Parvej M R, Hurburgh C R, Hanna H M, Licht M A. Dynamics of corn dry matter content and grain quality after physiological maturity. Agron J, 2020; 112(2): 998–1011.

Kutzbach H D, Quick G R. Harvesters and threshers: Grain. In: Stout B A, Cheze B. (Ed.) CIGR Handbook of Agricultural Engineering, Volume III: Plant Production Engineering. St. Joseph: ASAE, 1999; pp.311-347.

Anderson B, White D. Evaluation of methods for identification of corn genotypes with stalk rot and lodging resistance. Plant Dis, 1994; 78(6): 590–593.

Quesadaocampo L M, Alhaddad J, Scruggs A C, Buell CR, Trail F. Susceptibility of maize to stalk rot caused by Fusarium graminearum deoxynivalenol and zearalenone mutants. Phytopathology, 2016; 106(8): 920–927.

Yu C, Saravanakumar K, Xia H, Gao J, Fu K, Sun J, et al. Occurrence and virulence of Fusarium spp. associated with stalk rot of maize in

North-East China. Physiol Mol Plant P, 2017; 98: 1–8.

Mueller D S, Sisson A J, Robertson A E. Corn yield loss estimates due to diseases in the United States and Ontario, Canada from 2012 to 2015. Plant Health Prog, 2016; 17(3): 211–222.

Shauck T C, Smeda R J. Factors influencing corn harvest losses in Missouri. Crop Management, 2011; 10(1). doi: 10.1094/CM-2011-0926-01-RS.

Monsanto. Considering corn harvest losses and drying costs. Agronomic Spotlight, 2010; pp. 1–2.

Brandon H. Harvest efficiency boosts quality of stored corn. Southeast Farm Press, 2009; 10:11. https://www.farmprogress.com/grains/harvest-efficiency-boosts-quality-stored-corn. Accessed on [2009-8-27].

Md Rasel Parvej, Charles R. Hurburgh, H. Mark Hanna, Mark A. Licht. Dynamics of corn dry matter content and grain quality after physiological maturity. Agronomy Journal, 2020; 112(2): 998-1011.

Nielsen R I. Field dry down of mature corn grain. Purdue University, Corn News Network, 2011. Available: http://www.kingcorn.org/news/ timeless/GrainDrying.html. Accessed on [2011-09-09]

Erickson B, Valentin L. Evaluating corn harvest timing. Top Farmer Crop Workshop Newsletter, 2008; pp. 1-3.

University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating. Cron production handbook. MP437-250-6-08R, Gary Huitink, 8–Corn Harvesting, pp.65–72

Bruns H A, Abbas H K. Effects of harvest date on maize in the humid subtropical mid-south USA. Maydica, 2004; 49(1): 1–7.

ASAE D497.5 FEB2006. Agricultural machinery management data. St. Joseph, MI: ASABE, 2006; pp. 349-357

Paulsen M R, Hill L D. Quality attributes of argentine corn. Appl Eng Agric, 1985; 1(1): 42–46.

Xue J, Li L L, Xie R Z, Wang K R, Hou P, Ming B, et al. Effect of lodging on corn grain losing and harvest efficiency in mechanical grain harvest. Acta Agron Sin, 2018; 44(12): 1774–1781. (in Chinese)

Lauer J. Some pros and cons of letting corn stand in the field through winter. Wisconsin Crop Manager, 2004; 11(26): 170–171.

Paulsen M R, Nave W R. Corn damage from conventional and rotary combine. Trans ASAE, 1980; 23(5): 1110–1116.

Thomas R, Bingen T R. Trends in the process technology of grain crop harvesting. Agritechnica, 2003; 58: 362–363.

Lien R M, Haugh C G, Silver M J, Ashman R B. Machine losses in field harvesting popcorn. Transactions of the ASAE, 1976; 19(5): 827–829.

Pishgar-Komleh S, Keyhani A, Mostofi M R, Jafari A. Assessment and determination of seed-maize combine harvesting losses and energy consumption. Elixir Agric, 2013; 54: 12631–12637.

Srison W, Chuan-Udom S, Saengprachatanarak K. Design factors affecting losses and power consumption of an axial flow corn shelling unit. Agric Nat Resour, 2016; 38(5): 421–425.

Chuan-udom S, Chinsuwan W. Threshing unit losses prediction for Thai axial flow rice combine harvester. Ama Agr Mech Asia Af, 2015; 40(1): 50–54.

Chuan-udom S. Operating factors of Thai threshers affecting corn shelling losses. Songklanakarin J Sci Technol, 2013; 35(1): 63–67.

Monsanto. Understanding harvest losses in corn and soybean. Agronomy Advice, 2015; pp.1-10.

SteponaviČius D, PuŽauskas E, Špokas L, Jotautiene E, Kemzurait A, PetkeviČius S. Concave design for high-moisture corn ear threshing. Mechanika, 2018; 24(1): 80–91.

Pekkevicius S, Spokas L, Steponavicius D. Substantiation of technological parameters of wet maize threshing. Agron Res, 2008; 6(Special issue): 271–280.

Morvaridi N, Asoodar M A, Khademalhosseini N A. Evaluation of losses on corn (Zea Mays) combine harvester as effected by operational conditions under Khouzistan climate condition. In: The 10th International Congress on Mechanization and Energy in Agriculture, Antalya, Turkiye, 2008; pp.293-298.

Miu P I, Beck F, Kutzbach H-D. Mathematical modelling of threshing and separating process in axial threshing units. 1997; ASAE Paper No. 971063.

Miu P I. Mathematical modelling of material other-than-grain separation in threshing units. 1999;ASAE Paper No:993208.




Copyright (c) 2021 International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2023-2026 Copyright IJABE Editing and Publishing Office