MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF CANOLA CROP UNDER DIFFERENT PLANTING METHODS

Al-Gezawe, A. A. I.; Ahmed, K. I. W.

doi:10.21608/mjae.2013.99572

MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF CANOLA CROP UNDER DIFFERENT PLANTING METHODS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

A. A. I. Al-Gezawe ¹
K. I. W. Ahmed ²

¹ Researcher, Ag. Eng. Res. Inst., Ag. Res. Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

² Lecturer of Ag. Eng., Ag. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Ag., Zagazig Univ., Egypt.

10.21608/mjae.2013.99572

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out to select the optimum mechanical harvesting and threshing methodof canola crop (Brassica napus L.) under different planting methods. The performance of reciprocating mower and thresherwas evaluated comparing with combine harvesteras a function of change in forward speed (1.9, 2.5, 3.1 and 4.2 km/h), grain moisture content (10.4, 14.5, 17.8 and 21.3%) under different planting methods of manual, seed drill and pneumatic planterin terms of field capacity, field efficiency, total losses, power, energy and cost requirements. The experimental results reveal that total grain losses, energy and cost requirementswere in the optimum region under the following recommended conditions:
- Harvesting canola crop by using combineharvester in order to minimize the total losses, energy and cost requirements.
- Optimum forward speed for harvesting canola crop is about 3.1 km/h, so as to obtain minimum cost requirements.
- Harvesting canola crop at an average grain moisture content of14.5% to achievethe least losses as possible.
- Planting canola crop by pneumatic planter as the best method to ensureminimal grain consumption and optimal product yield.

Main Subjects

Agricultural Power and Machinery Engineering

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