Postharvest losses due to harvesting operations in developing countries: A review

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Harvest operations in developing countries were studied to understand how they contribute to overall postharvest losses. The speed of manual cutting operations risks significant crop loss due to delayed harvesting in developing countries. When harvest is delayed, shatter loss is the most-often mentioned cause of losses. Estimates of harvest losses range from 5 to 16% for rice and 8 to 18% for a range of different cereal crops. All of the cereal, oilseed and pulse crops have a narrow range of moistures for optimally-low harvest losses and high crop quality. The optimal moisture for harvest of all crops is nearly always too high to allow safe storage. Increased harvest mechanization can enable more timely harvest with lower losses, and would likely create a gender shift in harvest workers. Training is essential for developing mechanized harvest operator skills. Most non-mechanized threshing! cleaning systems have an inadequate means for separation! cleaning and containment of harvested grains, oilseeds, and pulses. Threshing, separating and cleaning losses for well- trained combine operators can be very low, rice 0.3%, maize 0.4%, soybeans 0.75- 1%, and wheat 1% of yield or less. Losses will go higher when the header is included but in general, rice should be less than 1.25 - 2.2%, maize less than 1.8%, soybeans less than 3%, and wheat less than 2% of yield in good standing crop.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2015
PublisherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Pages562-596
Number of pages35
ISBN (Electronic)9781510810501
StatePublished - 2015
EventAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2015 - New Orleans, United States
Duration: Jul 26 2015Jul 29 2015

Publication series

NameAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2015
Volume1

Other

OtherAmerican Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual International Meeting 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans
Period7/26/157/29/15

Keywords

  • Ace
  • Chickpeas
  • Cleaning
  • Combine harvesters
  • Cowpeas
  • Cutting
  • Developing countries
  • Grain
  • Haivesting losses
  • Harvesting
  • Losses
  • Maize
  • Millets
  • Oilseeds
  • Postharvest losses
  • Soybeans
  • Threshing
  • Wheat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Agronomy and Crop Science

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