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Research Project: Cropping Systems and Land Management in Dryland Pacific Northwest

Location: Soil and Water Conservation Research

Title: Effects of Header Modifications on Garbanzo Bean Harvesting Losses

Authors
item Siemens, Mark
item Corp, Mary - OREGON STATE UNIV EXT
item Correa, Robert - bob

Submitted to: Asae Pacific Northwest Section Meeting
Publication Acceptance Date: September 15, 2004
Publication Date: September 24, 2004
Citation: Siemens, M.C., Corp, M.K., Correa, R.F. 2004. Effects Of Header Modifications On Garbanzo Bean Harvesting Losses. Asae Paper No. Pnw04-1012, 10 Pp. St. Jseph, MICH.:ASAE.

Interpretive Summary: Due to the lack of specialized equipment, harvesting losses of garbanzo beans can be excessive as compared to other major crops like wheat, corn, and soybeans. This study determined if recently developed header technologies would reduce harvesting losses. Nine different combine header configurations were investigated during 2002. Equipment evaluated in the study included two types of knife guards, two guard attachments and three types of pick-up reels. Depending on the header configuration used, harvesting losses ranged from a low of 8 percent to a high of 26 percent equivalent to losses in crop revenue of $8/ac and $26/ac respectively. Double density guards were found to reduce losses by 42 percent as compared to single density guards. Long plastic finger double density guard attachments were found to reduce losses by 44 percent as compared to standard double density knife guards without the attachment. Use of short plastic finger guard attachments did not reduce harvesting losses or combine yield as compared to not using the attachment. Specialized crop gathering equipment such as an air reel and stripper header reduced harvesting losses by 37 percent and 43 percent respectively as compared to a conventional batted pick-up reel. Depending on the number of acres harvested, the high purchase price of these devices would be economically justifiable if the savings of $18/ac were realized on a commercial farm. The losses reported in this study suggest that garbanzo bean harvesting losses can be economically significant and that the header technologies evaluated can dramatically reduce harvesting losses.

Technical Abstract: Due to the lack of specialized equipment, harvesting losses of garbanzo beans can be excessive. This study determined if recently developed header technologies would reduce harvesting losses. Nine different combine header configurations were investigated on a field that yielded 770 lb/acre during the 2002 crop year. Equipment evaluated in the study included two types of knife guards, two guard attachments, a stripper header, and two types of pick-up reels. Depending on the header configuration used, harvesting losses ranged from a low of 8 percent to a high of 26 percent. Double density guards reduced losses by 42 percent as compared to single density guards when used with an air reel. Reductions in header losses or increases in combine yield did not occur when double density guards were used with header equipped with a batted pick-up reel. Long plastic finger attachments were found to reduce losses by 44 percent as compared to standard guards without the attachment. Use of short plastic finger guard attachments did not reduce harvesting losses or combine yield. Use of an air reel and stripper header reduced harvesting losses by 37 percent and 43 percent respectively. The magnitude of header losses were very similar to total combine losses for all experiments, indicating that header loss is the dominant factor in harvesting losses. The losses reported in this study may be high due to the late harvest date, but do suggest that garbanzo bean harvesting losses can be economically significant and that header configuration dramatically affect harvesting losses.

 
Project Team
Williams, John
Albrecht, Stephan - Steve
Gollany, Hero
Siemens, Mark
Long, Daniel
Wuest, Stewart

Publications

Related National Programs
  Water Quality & Management (201)
  Integrated Farming Systems (207)

 
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