In-field harvest loss of mechanically-harvested maize grain and affecting factors in China

Liangyu Hou, Keru Wang, Yizhou Wang, Lulu Li, Bo Ming, Ruizhi Xie, Shaokun Li

Abstract


Field harvest loss is a common problem of maize grain mechanical harvesting in China and abroad. From 2012 to 2019, 2987 groups of samples for the quality of mechanical grain harvesting in field were obtained in 21 major maize-producing provinces, cities, and regions of China. The analysis performed in this study showed that the average harvest loss of fallen ears was equivalent to 76.5% of the total harvest loss, indicating that the harvest loss in the mechanical harvesting of maize grain mainly came from the loss of fallen ears. Meanwhile, statistical analysis of the harvest loss in different ranges of grain moisture contents showed that, when the grain moisture content fell below 20%, the harvest loss rate of fallen ears and the total harvest loss rate both increased sharply, and the harvest loss of fallen ears increased faster than the harvest loss of fallen grain with a decreasing grain moisture content. Moreover, the results of multi-point experiments and harvest experiments in different periods showed that, during harvesting time, the harvest loss of fallen ears caused by lodging was the main reason for in-field harvest losses in the mechanical harvesting of maize grain. Apart from the above mentioned, the test results of 35 groups of harvesters for the in-field mechanical harvesting of maize grain showed that the harvester types and their operating parameters were important factors affecting the harvest loss in the mechanical harvesting of maize grain. Therefore, the principal paths to reduce harvest loss in the mechanical harvesting of maize grain are to breed lodging-resistant maize varieties, adopt reasonable planting densities, cultivate healthy plants, develop harvesters with low harvesting loss, intensify the training of operators, and harvest at an appropriate time.
Keywords: maize grain, mechanical harvest, harvest losses, affecting factors, fallen ears, fallen grain
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20211401.6036

Citation: Hou L Y, Wang K R, Wang Y Z, Li L L, Ming B, Xie R Z. In-field harvest loss of mechanically-harvested maize grain and affecting factors in China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2021; 14(1): 29–37.

Keywords


maize grain, mechanical harvest, harvest losses, affecting factors, fallen ears, fallen grain

Full Text:

PDF

References


Li S K, Xie R Z, Wang K R, Ming B, Hou P. Strengthening the research of grain dehydration and lodging characteristics to promote the application of corn mechanical grain harvest technology. Acta Agron Sin, 2018; 44(12): 1743–1746. (in Chinese)

Yang L, Cui T, Qu Z, Li K H, Yin X W, Han D D, et al. Development and application of mechanized maize harvesters. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2016; 9(3): 15–28.

Sumner P E, Williams E J. Measuring field losses from grain combines. The University of Georgia, 2009.

2009 Annual Report. Reynoldsburg, USA: Ohio Department of Agriculture. 2009. http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/Admin/Docs/AnnReports/ODA_Comm_AnnRp_2009.pdf/. Accessed on [2011-09-09].

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

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

GB/T 21961-2008. Technical conditions of maize harvesting machinery. General Administration of Quality Supervision and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China and China National Standardization Administration, 2008.

Hilbert J H. Machine and machine operator characteristics associated with corn harvest grain damage. Doctoral dissertation. Ames: Iowa State University, 1972; 140p.

Waelti H, Buchele W F, Farrell M. Progress report on losses associated with corn harvesting in Iowa. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 1969; 14(2): 134–138.

Ayres G E, Babcock C E, Hull D O. Corn combine field performance in Iowa. Columbus, Ohio: In: Grain damage symposium. The Ohio State University, 197; pp.1–17.

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

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

Nolte B H, Byg D M, Gill W E. Timely field operations for corn and soybeans in Ohio. Columbus: Ohio Cooperation Extension Service, 1976; Bulletin 605.

Byg D M, Hall G E. Corn losses and kernel damage in field shelling of Maize. Transactions of the ASAE, 1968; 11: 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: 448–452.

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

Gliem J A, Holmes R G, Wood R K. Corn and soybean harvesting losses. Transactions of the ASAE, 1990; Paper No: 90-1563.

Wesley H. Harvest aids for corn and soybeans. Corn Newsletter, 2009. Available: https//:agcrops.osu.edu/newsletters/2009/33. Accessed on [2009-09-29].

Zhang D X, Liu J, Cui T, Li Y L. Effects of different row space on maize yield and machinery harvesting losses. Reno ASABE Annual international meeting, 2009. doi: 10.13031/2013.27074.

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)

Kris J M, Jonathan H K, Greg A S, David C H. Agronomic management strategies to reduce the yield loss associated with spring harvested corn in Ontario. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2015; 6(2): 372–384.

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

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: 1765–1772.

Piggott S. Simulation of corn in field dry-down. Master dissertation. Lansing: Michigan state university, 2010; 72p.

Fu J, Chen Z, Han L J, Ren L Q. Review of grain threshing theory and

technology. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(3): 12–20.

Gary H. Maize production handbook. University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture, and County Governments Cooperating, MP437-250-6-08R, 8-Maize Harvesting, 1994; pp.65-72.

Paulsen M R, Kalita P K, Rausch K D. Postharvest losses due to harvesting operations in developing countries: A review. Transactions of the ASABE, 2015; 1: 562–596.

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

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 Agro Sin, 2018; 44(12): 1774–1781. (in Chinese)

Xue J, Wang Q, Li L L, Zhang W X, Xie R Z, Wang K R, et al. Changes of corn lodging after physiological maturity and its influencing factors. Acta Agro Sin, 2018; 44(12): 1782–1792. (In Chinese)

Wang K R, Li S K. Progresses in research on grain broken rate by mechanical grain harvesting. Sci Agri Sin, 2017; 50(11): 2018–2026.

Smith H P, Wilkes L H. Zhu J P, Wu X L (Translated). Agricultural machinery and equipment. Bejing: Machinery Press PRC, 1982; 260p.

Thomison P. Corn harvest schedules and dry down rates. CORN Newsletter, 2010. Available: http://maize.osu.edu/newsletters/2010/ 2010-29/maize-harvest-schedules-and-dry-down-rates. Accessed on [2010-09-07].

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

Paulsen M R, Pinto F A C, Sena D G Jr, Zandonadi R S, Ruffato S, Costa A G, et al. Measurement of combine losses for corn and soybeans in Brazil. Appl Eng Agric, 2013; 30(6). doi: 10.13031/aim.20131570965.

Charles S, Lyle V E, William H. Measuring and reducing corn harvesting losses.1983. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/7257. Accessed on [1983-09-06].

Minyo R, Geyer A, Thomison P. Ohio corn performance trials. Columbus: Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio State University, 2008.

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

Arnold R E. Experiments with rasp bar threshing drums-comparison of open and closed concaves. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 1964; 9: 250–251.

Fox R E. Development of a compression type corn threshing cylinder. Master dissertation. Ames: Iowa State University, 1969; 104p.

Li L L, , Xie R Z, Fan P P, Lei X P, Wang K R, Hou P, et al. Study on dehydration in kernel between Zhengdan 958 and Xianyu 335. J Maize Sci, 2016; 114(2): 57–61. (in Chinese)

Cross H Z. A selection procedure for ear drying-rates in early maize. Euphytica, 1985; 34(2): 409–418.

Morrison C S. Attachments for combine corn. Agricultural Engineering, 1955; 36: 792–794.

Koehler B. Pericarp injuries in seed corn. Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin, 1957; Bulletin 617.

Brass R W. Development of a low damage corn shelling cylinder. Master dissertation. Ames: Iowa State University, 1970. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/34109708_Development_of_a_low_damage_maize_shelling_cylinder. Accessed on [1970-01-01].

Pickard G E. Laboratory studies in corn combining. Agricultural Engineering, 1955; 36: 792–794.

Bingen T R. Trends in the process technology of grain crop harvesting. Agritechnica, 2007; 62: 388–389.




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