AGEN 3102
Agricultural Mechanics II: Farm Mechanization
For instructional purposes only. 1st Semester SY 2022-2023
Lesson 5: Harvesting and Threshing Machinery
Lesson Summary
Harvesting is one of the stages in crop processing. It is the process of removing crop under
or above the ground. In this lesson, the different classification, components, and threshing
efficiency will be tackled.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Identify the different types of harvesting equipment
2. Enumerate the components parts of the thresher machine and its uses.
3. Calculate the threshing efficiency of the thresher machine
Motivation Question
What could be the advantages and disadvantages of using both manual and machinery in
harvesting and/or threshing activities?
Discussion
Harvesting: It is the operation of cutting, picking, plucking, digging or a combination of these
operations for removing the crop from under the ground or above the ground or removing the
useful parts or fruits from plants.
Harvesting plants. The operation of cutting a plant is achieved by four different actions. (1)
slicing action with a sharp smooth edge, (2) tearing action with a rough, serrated edge, (3)
high velocity single element impact with sharp or dull edge, and (4) a two-element scissor type
action.
Sickle:
It is a simple harvesting tool. It is used for harvesting crops and cutting other
vegetations. It is essentially consists of a metallic blade and a wooden handle. Blade is the main
metallic part of the sickle. It is desirable to make the blade of carbon steel. It is made in a
curved shape. The tooth of serrated sickle is made sharp for efficient working in the field. The
handle of the sickle is made of well-seasoned wood.
Course code & title: AGEN 3102 – Agricultural Mechanics II: Farm
Mechanization
Prepared by: Ana Mae W. Aquino, ABE, MSc
For instructional purposes only. 1st Semester SY 2022-2023
Figure 1.
Sickle
Source: manufactum.com The Source:
forged photodune.net
end of the blade for fixing the
handle is called tang. The plain or serrated
edge in the inner side of the blade is called cutting edge. Protective metallic bush fitted at the
junction of the blade and the handle to keep the tang tight in the handle is called ferrule.
Harvesting by sickle is very slow and labor consuming device.
Reaper
Animal drawn reaper: Reaper is a machine to cut grain crops. It is pulled by a pair of
animals. It can harvest nearly 5 to 8 cm above the ground. The machine consists of frame,
cutter bar, knife, wheels, bearings and other attachments. Frame is usually made of mild
steel sections. The cutter bar knife is made of high carbon steel. The shoes are usually
made
of malleable casting. Usually two persons are required to operate the machine. One man
guides the animals and another man is engaged in dropping the cut crops from platform
to the ground.
Source: posterazzi.com
Figure 2. A Mccormick’s reaper
Course code & title: AGEN 3102 – Agricultural Mechanics II: Farm
Mechanization
Prepared by: Ana Mae W. Aquino, ABE, MSc
For instructional purposes only. 1st Semester SY 2022-2023
Threshing: It is the process of detaching grains from the earheads or from the plants.
Power Thresher
It is a machine operated by a prime mover such as an electric motor, engine, tractor or
power tiller used for threshing.
Source: researchgate.net
Figure 3. Rice thresher
A power thresher performs several functions such as:
i) To feed harvest to the threshing cylinder
ii) To thresh the grain out of the head
iii) to separate the grain from the straw
iv) to clean the grain
v) To put the grain in the bag
vi) To make the chaff suitable for animal feeding
Course code & title: AGEN 3102 – Agricultural Mechanics II: Farm
Mechanization
Prepared by: Ana Mae W. Aquino, ABE, MSc
For instructional purposes only. 1st Semester SY 2022-2023
Source: researchgate.net
Figure 4. The working mechanism of thresher
Types of Power threshers:
i) Hammer mill type:
It is a thresher with threshing unit consists of hammers or beaters with closed
cylinder casing and concave. It is equipped with a set of oscillating sieves an aspiratory
blower for separation and cleaning of grains.
ii) Rasp-bar-cylinder type:
In this thresher the threshing unit consists of bars with serrations having an open
concave.
iii) Spike- tooth type:
In this thresher the threshing unit consists of drum having rows of spikes with
closed cylinder casing and concave. It is equipped with a set of oscillating sieves an
aspiratory blower for separation and cleaning of grains.
iv) Syndicator type:
In this thresher the threshing unit consists of a corrugated fly wheel with serrated
chopping knives and a closed cylinder casing and concave. This is also called as chaff
cutter type thresher.
v) Drum type:
It is a hammer mill type thresher without separation and cleaning unit.
Course code & title: AGEN 3102 – Agricultural Mechanics II: Farm
Mechanization
Prepared by: Ana Mae W. Aquino, ABE, MSc
For instructional purposes only. 1st Semester SY 2022-2023
On the basis of feeding system threshers are four types as:
i) Chute-feed thresher.
ii) Conveyor feed thresher
iii) Feed roller feed thresher
iv) Hopper feed thresher
On the basis of crop threshers are six types as:
i) Wheat thresher
ii) Paddy thresher
iii) Groundnut thresher
iv) Millet thresher
v) Soybean thresher
vi) Multicrop thresher
Components of Power Thresher:
i) Concave:
It is a concave shaped metal grating partly surrounding the cylinder against
which the cylinder rubs the grain from the plant or earheads and through which
the grains fall on the sieve.
ii) Cylinder or Drum:
It is a balanced rotating assembly comprising rasp, beater bar or spikes on its
periphery and their support for threshing the crop. There are five cylinders
commonly used as: i) peg tooth or spike tooth cylinder, ii) Rasp- bar cylinder, iii)
Angle bar cylinder, iv) Loop type cylinder, and v) Hammer mill type cylinder.
iii) Cleaning Unit:
The function of cleaning unit is to separate and clean the threshed grain. The
cleaning unit mainly consists of two or more oscillating sieves, a fan and an air
sucking duct known as aspirator. Usually two ducts are there, one primary and
another secondary duct. The function of the primary duct is to remove major
portion of straw, dust and other foreign matter. The secondary duct is used for
final cleaning of the grains.
Course code & title: AGEN 3102 – Agricultural Mechanics II: Farm
Mechanization
Prepared by: Ana Mae W. Aquino, ABE, MSc
For instructional purposes only. 1st Semester SY 2022-2023
Threshing efficiency depends upon:
i) Peripheral speed of the cylinder;
ii) Cylinder- concave clearance;
iii) Type of crop;
iv) Moisture content of crop;
v)Weather condition; and
vi) Feed rate.
Combine harvester:
Combine harvester is a machine designed for harvesting, threshing, cleaning and
collecting the grain while it moves over the land. All the five operations are carried out in
single operation of the harvester. The machine is versatile and with minor adjustments
can handle a variety of crops. The size of the combine is indicated by the width of cut, it
covers in the field. Combine harvester in its primitive form was introduced in Germany
and U.S.A. in late 19th century and became popular in next decades.
Functions of combine harvester:
1. cutting the standing crops
2. feeding the cut crops to threshing unit
3. threshing the crops
4. Cleaning the grains from straw
5. Collecting the grains in a container
Course code & title: AGEN 3102 – Agricultural Mechanics II: Farm
Mechanization
Prepared by: Ana Mae W. Aquino, ABE, MSc
For instructional purposes only. 1st Semester SY 2022-2023
Source: philmech.gov.ph
Figure 5. Combine harvester
Sample Problems:
Problem No.1:
Calculate the total time required to harvest 2.5 hectare of grass by means of a 2m
mover operating at a speed of 4 kph. Take field efficiency of mover as 80%.
Solution:
Actual Area covered, Ha, A = [(W x S) /1000] x (E / 100) x Time
2.5 = [(200 x 4) x 80 / (1000 x 100)] x Time
Time = (2.5) / [(200 x 4) x 80 / (1000 x 100)]
Time = 3.9 Hours
Problem No. 2:
What hp will be required to pull 1.2 m mover working at a speed of 4.8 kmph. If
there is a load of 50 kg per meter length of the mover and mechanical efficiency is 80%.
Solution:
Total load = 1.2 x 50 = 60kg
Total Power = Draft (kg) x Speed (kmph) /270
= (60 x 4.8 /270) = 1.066 hp
hp required to pull the mover = (1.066 x 100 /80)
= 1.33 hp
Course code & title: AGEN 3102 – Agricultural Mechanics II: Farm
Mechanization
Prepared by: Ana Mae W. Aquino, ABE, MSc
