Performance Evaluation of Sorghum Harvester Considering Crop, Machine and Operating Parameters
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2025624.1973Keywords:
conveying efficiency, cutting efficiency, shattering loss, windrowing lossAbstract
The performance evaluation of the tractor operated sorghum harvester was conducted at farmer’s field at Raichur, Karnataka, and evaluated for different crop and machine parameters viz., three tractor forward speeds (0.56, 0.69 and 0.83 m s-1), three conveyor belt speed (1.00, 1.50 and 200 m s-1), and at three sorghum crop stalk moisture content (27.23%, 22.19% and 18.32%). The sorghum Varada-14 hybrid variety was selected for the study. The results showed that the highest cutting efficiency of 94.09% and best conveying efficiency of 85% were found when the tractor was moving at 0.56 m s-1, the conveyor belt speed was 2.50 m s-1, and the crop moisture content was 27.23% (wet basis). On the other hand, the lowest cutting efficiency of 71.25% and conveying efficiency of 64% were observed when the tractor speed was 0.83 m s-1, the belt speed was 1.50 m s-1, and the crop moisture was 18.32% (w. b.). Also, the maximum shattering loss of 0.84% and maximum windrowing loss of 1.01% found at 0.83 m s-1 tractor speed, 2.50 m s-1 conveyor belt speed, and 18.32% (w. b.) crop moisture content. The minimum shattering loss of 0.10% and lowest windrowing loss of 0.15% were recorded at 0.56 m s-1 tractor speed, 1.50 m s-1 belt speed, and 27.23% crop moisture. It was found that the tractor operated sorghum harvester had high performance efficiency when it is operated at tractor forward speed 0.56 m s-1, conveyor belt speed 2.50 m s-1 and crop moisture content 27.23% (w. b.).
Downloads
References
Abdrabo, A. F. (2015). Development of a self-propelled reaper for wheat crop. Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 32(1), 41–66. https://doi.org/10.21608/mjae.2015.98675 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/mjae.2015.98675
Anonymous. (2021). Why mechanization is important. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available at: https://www.fao.org/sustainable-agricultural-mechanization/overview/why-mechanization-is-important/en/ (accessed on 01 June 2021).
Baranitharan, B., Chandran, K., Rajalakshmi, M., Mullick, S., & Dutta, P. K. (2023). Developing an efficient harvester and weeder for improved plantation productivity. Proceedings of the 7th IET International Smart Cities Symposium (SCS23), University of Bahrain, Bahrain. https://doi.org/10.1049/icp.2024.0910 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1049/icp.2024.0910
BIS. (1986). 1S:11467-1985: Indian Standard Test Code for Cereal Harvesting Machines (Reaffirmed 2012). Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), New Delhi.
BIS. (2000). IS 8122-2: Indian Standard Combine-Harvester-Thresher - Test Code, Part 2: Performance Test. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), New Delhi.
Ebrahim, Z., Pour, S. A., & Maysami, M. (2019). Design, construction and performance evaluation of a reaper for small farms (case study: Iran). Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 21(3), 104–113.
El-Sharabasy, M. M. A. (2006). Construction and manufacture of a self-propelled machine suitable for cutting some grain crops to minimize losses and maximize efficiency. Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 23(3), 509–531.
Gousia, S. K., & Suseela, S. (2021). Impact of farm mechanization on income and employment and constraints in mechanisation of rice cultivation in West Godavari district. The Journal of Research ANGRAU, 49(2), 123–125.
He, Q., Wang, Q., Geng, D., Li, D., Niu, L., Ma, J., Zhang, C., Ming, J., & Ni, L. (2023). Design and experiment of grain lifter for sorghum harvester. Applied Sciences, 13(24), 13168. https://doi.org/10.3390/app132413168 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app132413168
Huang J., Tian K., Shen, C, Zhang B,, Liu H., Chen Q., Li, X., & Ji, A. (2020). Design and parameter optimization for cutting-conveying mechanism of ramie combine harvester. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 13(6), 94–103. https://doi.org/10.25165/j.ijabe.20201306.5952 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25165/j.ijabe.20201306.5952
Kepner, R. A., Bainer, R., & Barger, E. L. (2005). Principles of Farm Machinery (3rd ed.). CBS Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi.
Kumar, A., Kumar, A., Khan, K., & Kumar, D. (2017). Performance evaluation of harvesting and threshing methods for wheat crop. International Journal of Pure & Applied Biosciences, 5(2), 604–611. https://doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2497 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2497
Kumar, M., Mehta, C. R., Jyoti, B., Tamhankar, M. B., & Babu, V. B. (2025). Technology forecasting of agricultural implements for Central India using structural time series model. Journal of Agricultural Engineering (India), 62(1), 69–79. https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2025621.1907 DOI: https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2025621.1907
Liu, Y., Luo, C., Zong, W., Huang, X., Ma, L., & Lian, G. (2021). Optimization of clamping and conveying device for sunflower oil combine harvester header. Agriculture, 11(9), 859. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11090859 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11090859
Mashood, A. A., Giles, O, N., Ayinde , W. F., Abimbola, A. A., Tope, F., & Rasheed , K. A. (2021). Adoption of a hand-guided motorized rice reaper for harvesting soybeans. International Journal of Life Sciences, 10(4), 63–68.
Mehta, C. R., Bangale, R. A., Chandel, N. S., & Mohitakumar. (2023). Farm mechanization in India: Status and way forward. Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America, 54(2), 75–82.
Mostafavand, H., & Kamgar, S. (2014). Effect of grain moisture content and forward speed on grain losses of three varieties of chickpea in mechanical harvesting using feeder and cutter mechanism. International Journal of Agricultural Innovation and Research, 3(3), 860–864.
Nikam, M. D., Thakare, S. H., Khambalkar, V. P., & Karhale, S. S. (2017). Study of economics of manual and mechanical harvesting method of sorghum crop. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 6(6), 1211–1217. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.606.140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.606.140
Ojomo, A. O., Ale, M. O., & Ogundele. (2017). Effect of moisture content on the performance of a motorized weeding machine. IOSR Journal of Engineering, 2(8), 49–53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9790/3021-02814953
Pal, R., Satyartham, Ashish, R., Kumar, S., Sunil, Singh, V., Singh, V., & Singh. K. (2025). Sustainable harvesting methods for wheat crop: A comparative economic and performanceanalysis. Cuestiones De Fisioterapia, 54(3), 1862-1873. https://doi.org/10.48047/zmj4dd28
Pargi, S. J., Gupta, P., Balas, P. R., & Bambhaniya, V. U. (2024). Comparison between manual harvesting and mechanical harvesting. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 30(6), 917–934. https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2024/v30i62110 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2024/v30i62110
Patel, R. K., & Varshney, A. C. (2014). Performance evaluation of self-propelled vertical conveyor reaper for rice harvesting. Agricultural Engineering Today, 38(1), 21–25.
Sharma, D. N., & Mukesh. (2010). Farm Machinery Design: Principles and Problems. Jain Brothers, New Delhi.
Shreen, F. A. M., Badawy, M. E., & Abo El Naga, M. H. M. (2014). Comparison between mechanical methods and a rice combine modified for harvesting wheat crop in Egyptian fields. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 92(2), 675–692. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejar.2014.155203 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/ejar.2014.155203
Tanti, D. P., Jhala, K. B., & Jadav, C. V. (2019). Performance evaluation of battery-powered reaper. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 8(7), 1998–2005. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2019.807.238 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2019.807.238
