Effect of mechanical harvesting for germination capability of rice seed

Abstract

At present, mechanical harvester call combine harvester of which cutting, threshing and cleaning performed in one machine are highly popular among local farmers as a solution for labor scarcity during harvesting season. However, most of the farmers interpret without proper evidence that germination of rice seeds can be lost due to mechanical harvesting by combine harvester. Therefore this study was conduct for scientific evaluation of mechanical harvester for seed damage and germination. Four types of available commercial combine harvester machine brands namely Kubota, Mubota, Agrotech and Class were used for this experiment. During the experiment, machines were operated under standard operating conditions as mention in the machine manufactures. The 40m² area that 2m wide and 20m strip was harvested by each mechanical harvesters. Same size strip was harvested manually in same field as a control. Seed mechanical damage was analysis by seed damage detector and standard germination test, 100 paddy seeds allow to germinate on cotton wool media with adequate amount of water for 10 days was performed. The results revealed that mechanical damage to seed was not significant when machine was new and operate under standard operation condition. As well as results were clearly pointed out that new or well-maintained mechanical harvesters were not significantly effected for reducing seed germination compare to control. However, the mechanical damaged occurred to the seeds during mechanical harvesting caused to reduced seed germination capabilities. Further, experiment has shown that mechanical damage of seeds would be increased due to use of worn out mechanical parts in the harvesting machines for long run without replacing