Introduction to major field crops (1+1)

Harvesting and Threshing

When straw turns to yellow and dry is the visual indicator for harvesting of wheat crop.Delay harvesting leads to shredding, breaking of spikes and shattering of grains. Grain should be hard and should have 20-25 per cent moisture content at the time of harvesting. Harvesting is generally done manually with sickle or serrated sickle. Bullock driven reapers are also used. After harvesting, the crop is dried for 3-4 days on the threshing floor and threshing is done by threshers. Combined harvester cum thresheris used for harvesting, threshing and winnowing in single operation.For storage purpose, the moisture content in the grains should be around10-12 per cent.



Fig: Reproductive stage.






Fig: Maturity stage.



Fig: Matured panicle. Fig: Harvesting.



Fig: Transportation.


Fig: Threshing.




Fig: Cleaning.



Fig: Mechanical harvester cum thresher. Fig: Threshed grains.




Fig: Loading. Fig: Bagging.



Fig: Storage.