dc.description.abstract | Losses
of
grain
in
the
field,
which
occur
with
the
use
of
the
header,
combine
and
windrower,
have
caused
much
concern
to
farmers
and
research
workers.
Bracken
(2)
reported
that
the
combine
method
of
harvesting
was
more
efficient
than
the
header
and
thresher
method.
Hardy
(5)
stated
that,
since
uniform
maturity
and
low
kernel
moisture
content
were
necessary
for the
straight
combining
of
grain,
a
loss of
grain
could
result
from
adverse
weather
conditions
during
the
period
between
the
binding
and
the
straight
combining
stages.
Many
other
re
search
workers
(4,
6, 7,
10,
11)
sug
gested
that
the
windrower
should
be
used
as a
harvesting
implement
to re
duce
the
losses
caused
by
weather,
green weeds or insects.
Mayer
(8)
con
cluded
that
high
threshing
losses
resulted
because
of
the
limited
capacity
of the
combine
cylinder.
Nyborg
(9)
showed
that
the
separating
action
of
the
straw
walkers
was
the
limiting
factor
in
combine
capacity,
and
that
overloading
this
mechanism
could
contribute
to a high
harvest
loss. It has
been
reported
(1)
that
the
pick-up
loss
may be
minimized
by
operating
the
pick-up as close to the
ground
as
possible
and by
limiting
the
forward
speed of the
combine
to
four
miles
per
hour | en |