Performance Evaluation and Field Characterization of the Sifang Mini Rice Combine Harvester

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shadrack K. Amponsah ◽  
Ahmad Addo ◽  
Komla A. Dzisi ◽  
Jean Moreira ◽  
Sali A. Ndindeng
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Rice Variety ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Grain Moisture ◽  
Grain Damage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Combine Harvester

Abstract. Performance of a Sifang mini rice combine, originally developed in China, was evaluated under local farmer field conditions in Benin. Results from field evaluation show that the combine worked satisfactorily on less dense rice fields with minimal weeds at grain moisture contents between 19.1% and 20.1% w.b. on soils with moisture content from 23% to 33% d.b. while causing no significant changes to soil physical properties. With harvesting speed ranging from 0.8 to 4.5 km/h, the harvester had a field capacity of 0.10 to 0.39 ha/h and consumed fuel of up to 11 L/ha while having track slip of 6% to 9%. Harvesting using 2- and 1-L gear offered the best efficiency for IR841 and Nerica L20 rice varieties, respectively. As harvesting speed increased, harvesting efficiency decreased and crop throughput increased irrespective of rice variety. The combine produced low mechanical grain damage with total grain loss ranging from 1.43% to 4.43% and 1.85% to 5.6% for the IR841 and Nerica L20 rice varieties, respectively. At an investment cost of US$5000 and hiring at US$10 per h, owning the mini combine harvester becomes profitable after 342 h of machine use; equivalent to approximately 133 ha of paddy field harvested at a harvesting capacity of 0.39 ha/h. Further testing of the combine under a wide range of crop and soil conditions across different agro-ecological zones and economic comparison with manual harvesting is recommended. This would offer smallholder farmers diverse options of rice harvesting mechanization to facilitate future adoption of improved technologies. Keywords: Crop throughput, Field capacity, Field efficiency, Grain loss, Mini rice combine, Sifang.

scholarly journals Extrusion Conditions and Amylose Content Affect Physicochemical Properties of Extrudates Obtained from Brown Rice Grains

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolando José González ◽  
Elena Pastor Cavada ◽  
Javier Vioque Peña ◽  
Roberto Luis Torres ◽  
Dardo Mario De Greef ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amylose Content ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Rice Variety ◽  
Brown Rice ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Cereal Products ◽  
Single Screw Extruder ◽  
Cooking Process ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Specific Mechanical Energy

The utilization of whole grains in food formulations is nowadays recommended. Extrusion cooking allows obtaining precooked cereal products and a wide range of ready-to-eat foods. Two rice varieties having different amylose content (Fortuna 16% and Paso 144, 27%) were extruded using a Brabender single screw extruder. Factorial experimental design was used to study the effects of extrusion temperature (160, 175, and 190°C) and grits moisture content (14%, 16.5%, and 19%) on extrudate properties. Specific mechanical energy consumption (SMEC), radial expansion (E), specific volume (SV), water absorption (WA), and solubility (S) were determined on each extrudate sample. In general, Fortuna variety showed higher values of SMEC andS(703–409 versus 637–407 J/g; 33.0–21.0 versus 20.1–11.0%, resp.) than those of Paso 144; on the contrary SV (8.64–3.47 versus 8.27–4.53 mL/g) and WA tended to be lower (7.7–5.1 versus 8.4–6.6 mL/g). Both varieties showed similar values of expansion rate (3.60–2.18). Physical characteristics depended on extrusion conditions and rice variety used. The degree of cooking reached by Paso rice samples was lower than that obtained for Fortuna. It is suggested that the presence of germ and bran interfered with the cooking process, decreasing friction level and broadening residence time distribution.

scholarly journals Reducing grain damage in naked oat through gentle harvesting

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
A-M. KIRKKARI ◽  
P. PELTONEN-SAINIO ◽  
H. RITA
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Mechanical Damage ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Naked Oat ◽  
The Third ◽  
Grain Moisture ◽  
Grain Damage ◽  
Combine Harvester ◽  
Oat Cultivars ◽  
Growing Conditions

The caryopsis of naked oat is sensitive to mechanical damage at harvest, especially at high grain moisture content. For producing high quality naked oat seed, it is recommended that harvesting be carried out at as low grain moisture content as possible. This reduces mechanical damage to the grain and promotes germination. Under northern growing conditions, grains are often harvested at 20% moisture content or higher. In this study, reduced grain resulted from using gentler settings on the combine harvester. Two naked oat cultivars and one conventional oat were harvested at different grain moisture content using three combine harvester settings: the first setting that recommended for conventional oat, the second a reduced cylinder speed and the third a narrow concave clearance. The greater the grain moisture content of naked oat at harvest, the more damage was caused by threshing. Lower cylinder speeds tended to result in better germination than higher speeds, even under moist conditions. Narrowing the concave clearance did not affect germination.

scholarly journals Field evaluation of hermetic and synthetic pesticide-based technologies in smallholder sorghum grain storage in hot and arid climates

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Macdonald Mubayiwa ◽  
Brighton M. Mvumi ◽  
Tanya Stathers ◽  
Shaw Mlambo ◽  
Tinashe Nyabako
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Grain Storage ◽  
Pesticide Treatment ◽  
Grain Moisture ◽  
Grain Damage ◽  
Synthetic Pesticide ◽  
Sorghum Grain

AbstractField evaluation of six grain storage technologies under hot and arid conditions (32–42 °C; rainfall < 450 mm/year) in two locations in Zimbabwe were conducted over two storage seasons. The treatments included three hermetic technologies (Purdue Improved Crop Storage bags, GrainPro Super Grainbags, metal silos); three synthetic pesticide-based treatments; and an untreated control, all using threshed sorghum grain. Sampling was at eight-week intervals for 32 weeks. Highly significant differences (p < 0.01) occurred between hermetic and non-hermetic treatments regarding grain damage, weight loss, insect pest populations, and grain moisture content; with the hermetic containers exhibiting superior grain protection. Weight losses were low (< 3%) in hermetic treatments compared to pesticide-based treatments (3.7 to 14.2%). Tribolium castaneum developed in metal silos, deltamethrin-incorporated polypropylene bags and a pesticide treatment containing deltamethrin 0.13% and fenitrothion 1% while Sitotroga cerealella developed in a pesticide treatment containing pirimiphos-methyl 0.16% + thiamethoxam 0.036%. Mechanisms of survival and development of these pests in the tested treatments and under similar climatic conditions need further elucidation. These hermetic technologies can be successfully used by smallholder farmers in developing countries as alternatives to synthetic pesticides for protecting stored-sorghum grain under hot and arid climatic conditions to attain household food security. To our knowledge, this is the first published study on modern hermetic storage of sorghum grain under typical smallholder storage conditions and involving stakeholders.

scholarly journals Unjuk Kerja Mesin Pemanen Padi (Oryza sativa) Kombinasi Mini (Mini Combine Harvester)

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Mochamad Zakky ◽  
Joko Pitoyo ◽  
Adi Prayoga
Keyword(s):  
Oryza Sativa ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Effective Field ◽  
Work Efficiency ◽  
Working Capacity ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Combine Harvester ◽  
Field Efficiency ◽  
Time And Energy ◽  
Modern Machine

Mini combine harvester is a modern machine used for cutting rice, threshing and cleaning grain while walking in the field. This machine helps farmers where, time and energy to harvest more efficiently and does not require a large amount of labor like traditional (manual) harvesting. This study aimed to calculate and determine the working capacity of the mini combine harvester machine and calculated the work efficiency of the mini combine harvester machine. The method used in this research was experimental using a mini combine harvester type Yanmar model YH150 with Ciherang 32 rice varieties ready to harvest. The results of this study indicated that the effective field capacity is 0.125 ha/hour or 8.028 hour/ha, while the theoretical field capacity was 0.234 ha/hour so that the field efficiency is 53.23%. Keywords: field efficiency, field capacity, rice, mini combine harvester

scholarly journals Comparative evaluation of mechanised and manual threshing options for Amankwatia and AGRA rice varieties in Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shadrack Kwadwo Amponsah ◽  
Ahmad Addo ◽  
Komla Dzisi ◽  
Jean Moreira ◽  
Sali Atanga Ndindeng
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Feed Rate ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Rice Variety ◽  
Cleaning Efficiency ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Physical Energy ◽  
Grain Moisture ◽  
Significant Difference

Performance of a Yanmar DB 1000 mechanised paddy thresher was comparatively assessed against manual threshing by impact method using a locally-made wooden box for Amankwatia and AGRA rice varieties under farmer’s field conditions at Nobewam in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The mechanised thresher was evaluated at various threshing drum speeds (550 rpm, 600 rpm and 650 rpm) and feeding rates (200 kgh-1, 400 kgh-1 and 600 kgh-1). Results showed that threshing was satisfactory at grain moisture content between 16.9% w.b and 18.0% w.b. for both rice varieties. Threshing efficiency increased from 94.6% to 95.8% with no significant difference observed whereas cleaning efficiency decreased significantly from 84.2 % to 81.6 % with increasing feed rate irrespective of rice variety. Again, threshing efficiency increased with increasing drum rotational speed, irrespective of feed rate and rice variety. Percentage broken grain and grain loss both increased with increasing peripheral drum speed and paddy feed rate irrespective of rice variety. Average fuel consumption, physical energy requirement and threshing capacity increased significantly with increasing drum speed and feed rate. Crop moisture content and shattering ability influenced the threshing efficiency, threshing capacity, grain loss, broken grain, fuel and physical energy requirement at threshing. AGRA rice variety generally performed better than Amankwatia under both mechanical and manually threshing methods. Mechanised threshing was significantly better at reducing grain loss and physical energy demand whilst yielding over 200% higher threshing capacity than manual threshing by impact using the wooden box. Mechanised threshing was financially rewarding, yielding over 500% higher profit margin than the manual threshing option. Further research on optimum crop moisture content for improved threshing of different rice varieties is suggested.

scholarly journals Impact of Improved Rice Variety on Productivity Among Smallholder Farmers in Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Edward Tsinigo ◽  
Kwasi Ohene-Yankyerah ◽  
Simon Cudjoe Fialor
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Rice Variety ◽  
Neutral Type ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Agricultural Technologies ◽  
Rice Productivity ◽  
Rice Farmers ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Advancement in agricultural technologies is seen to result in the shift in production functions. The study was conducted to establish the impact of the improved rice variety on productivity in the Ejura-Sekyedumase and Atebubu-Amantin Municipalities of Ghana. The study was based on the survey of 208 rice farmers using a three-stage stratified sampling method. The study used a structured questionnaire to collect input-output data from the rice farmers. Data were analysed using the Cobb-Douglas production function. The study found that the technical change associated with the introduction of the improved rice variety was of the non-neutral type. Further, the adoption of the improved rice variety has increased rice productivity by about 46% for the adopters. The main determinants of productivity for the adopters were seed, land, fertiliser, herbicide, and education. Productivity among the non-adopters was positively influenced by seed, land, herbicide, and fertiliser. The study concluded that the improved rice variety has superior yield advantage. The study recommends for the simultaneous promotion of improved rice varieties and their recommended inputs to increase rice productivity.

scholarly journals Confronting genetic gains with markets: Retrospective lessons from New Rice for Africa (NERICA) in Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 298-310
Author(s):  
Kofi Britwum ◽  
Eric S Owusu ◽  
Matty Demont
Keyword(s):  
Market Access ◽  
Upland Rice ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Rice Variety ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Strategic Investment ◽  
Genetic Gains ◽  
Fragrant Rice ◽  
Urban Markets

Breeders have two non-exclusive strategic investment options for increasing smallholder farmers’ and consumers’ livelihoods through genetic improvement of crop varieties: (i) enhancing productivity; and (ii) enhancing value and market access. New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties with superior agronomic characteristics were bred and introduced in various African countries in the early 2000s. Two decades later, drought tolerant NERICA4 is among the popular upland rice varieties grown across Africa. We analyze market evidence for NERICA4 from Uganda in 2011, i.e. well before it massively reached urban markets, where it is currently commingled with standard rice. We then compare the breeding priorities that would have ensued from the 2011 market evidence with the reality a decade later. Non-hypothetical auction experiments with consumers were conducted in urban Uganda in 2011 to predict potential market share and value of non-fragrant NERICA4 and fragrant NERICA1, relative to two market standards, i.e. non-fragrant Kaiso, and Supa, the most popular fragrant rice variety in the region. Average consumer bids positioned the two NERICAs between both market standards. Whereas NERICA1 easily outcompeted NERICA4 and Kaiso in the non-fragrant rice category, it failed to compete with Supa in the fragrant category. The 2011 market evidence would have suggested breeders prioritize investment in breeding programs for fragrant NERICAs to help smallholders gain access to high-value markets and expand consumers’ choice with cheaper fragrant rice alternatives. However, the popularity of NERICA4 relative to NERICA1 in farmers’ fields seems to suggest that agronomic genetic gains may have outweighed market traits such as fragrance.

XVI.—Ecological Distribution of the Lumbricidæ in the Hebrides

1957 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Morton Boyd
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Content ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Calcareous Sand ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Outer Hebrides ◽  
Marine Products ◽  
Soil Habitat ◽  
Mineral Base

SynopsisThe mineral base of the soils in Islay, Tiree, Coll and the Outer Hebrides is composed mainly of erosion products of Lewisian and Torridonian rocks, together with materials taken from solution in the sea biotically, and subsequently deposited in the form of shell-sand on the windward coasts. The soils composed for the most part of erosion products are acid, and those of marine products basic. Along transect lines at right angles to the coast there is in many places a wide range of soil conditions from calcareous sand to peat, in distances of about 1 kilometre.The distribution of the Lumbricidæ, a group known to be affected by pH, available calcium content, and moisture content of the soil, is studied within this range in soil types. Seventeen species are involved, three of which are grouped (in numerical considerations) owing to taxonomic difficulties, and these are described in groups living in the main ecological zones of the soil habitat. Relationships are found between the abundance of those species and soil types.The occurrence of earthworms in three different soil niches—open soil, in and under cow-pats, and under stones—is described, and niche preferences of the dominant species discussed.

scholarly journals Improving Grain Zinc Concentration in Wetland and Upland Rice Varieties Grown under Waterlogged and Well-Drained Soils by Applying Zinc Fertilizer

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 554
Author(s):  
Patcharin Tuiwong ◽  
Sithisavet Lordkaew ◽  
Chanakan Prom-u-thai
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Zinc Concentration ◽  
Upland Rice ◽  
Rice Variety ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Zn Concentration ◽  
Zinc Fertilizer ◽  
Growing Conditions

The objective of this study was to evaluate the responses in grain yield and zinc concentration of wetland and upland rice varieties to Zn fertilizer application and different growing conditions. The wetland (Chainat 1; CNT1) and upland (Kum Hom CMU; KH CMU) rice varieties were grown under waterlogged and well-drained soil conditions with or without Zn fertilizer application. Zinc fertilizer (ZnSO4) was applied at 0 and 60 kg ha−1 in three stages at tillering, booting, and flowering. In the wetland variety, CNT1, grain yield decreased by 18.0% in the well-drained soil compared to the waterlogged conditions, but there was an 8.9% decrease in grain yield in the waterlogged soil compared to the well-drained soil in the upland variety, KH CMU. Applying Zn fertilizer affected yields differently between the varieties, decreasing grain yield by 11.9% in CNT1 while having no effect in KH CMU. For grain Zn concentrations in brown rice, applying Zn fertilizer increased Zn concentration by 16.5–23.1% in CNT1 and KH CMU under both growing conditions. In the well-drained soil, applying Zn fertilizer increased straw Zn concentration by 51.6% in CNT1 and by 43.4% in KH CMU compared with the waterlogged conditions. These results indicated that the wetland and upland rice varieties responded differently to Zn fertilizer application when grown in different conditions. Applying Zn fertilizer in the appropriate rice variety and growing conditions would help farmers to improve both the desirable grain yield and Zn concentration in rice.

Glycaemic responses to glucose and rice in people of Chinese and European ethnicity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kataoka ◽  
BJ Venn ◽  
SM Williams ◽  
Lisa Te Morenga ◽  
IM Heemels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Rice Variety ◽  
Glycaemic Index ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Glycaemic Response ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Adjusted Risk ◽  
Postprandial Glycaemia ◽  
Adjusted Risk Ratio ◽  
Glucose Curve

Aims: Diabetes rates are especially high in China. Risk of Type 2 diabetes increases with high intakes of white rice, a staple food of Chinese people. Ethnic differences in postprandial glycaemia have been reported. We compared glycaemic responses to glucose and five rice varieties in people of European and Chinese ethnicity and examined possible determinants of ethnic differences in postprandial glycaemia. Methods: Self-identified Chinese (n = 32) and European (n = 31) healthy volunteers attended on eight occasions for studies following ingestion of glucose and jasmine, basmati, brown, Doongara® and parboiled rice. In addition to measuring glycaemic response, we investigated physical activity levels, extent of chewing of rice and salivary α-amylase activity to determine whether these measures explained any differences in postprandial glycaemia. Results: Glycaemic response, measured by incremental area under the glucose curve, was over 60% greater for the five rice varieties (P < 0.001) and 39% greater for glucose (P < 0.004) amongst Chinese compared with Europeans. The calculated glycaemic index was approximately 20% greater for rice varieties other than basmati (P = 0.01 to 0.05). Ethnicity [adjusted risk ratio 1.4 (1.2-1.8) P < 0.001] and rice variety were the only important determinants of incremental area under the glucose curve. Conclusions: Glycaemic responses following ingestion of glucose and several rice varieties are appreciably greater in Chinese compared with Europeans, suggesting the need to review recommendations regarding dietary carbohydrate amongst rice-eating populations at high risk of diabetes. © 2012 Diabetes UK.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document