Introduction to major field crops (1+1)

Harvesting and Threshing

The maturity period ranges from 90 to 140 days depending on varieties and season. At maturity the leaves turn yellow anddrop. The pods dry out quickly and the seed in pod is hard and dough. The moisture content in grain should not be more than I2-14 per cent. Preferably the crop should be harvested in the morning to avoid losses due to shattering. Harvesting is done by uprooting the plants or by cutting with sickle. Crop is threshed by beating with sticks or by bullock or tractor thresher or by mechanical soybean thresher. The grain should be dried in the sun to bring the moisture to 10-12 per cent.

Fig: Green pods. Fig: Matured pods.

Fig: Mechanical harvester.