نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 گروه مهندسی مکانیزاسیون و بیوسیستم، واحد شوشتر، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، شوشتر، ایران.
2 گروه مهندسی ماشینهای کشاورزی و مکانیزاسیون، دانشکده مهندسی کشاورزی و توسعه روستایی، دانشگاه علوم کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی خوزستان،
3 گروه مهندسی ماشین های کشاورزی، دانشکده کشاورزی کرج، دانشگاه تهران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Introduction
This study, conducted in Shushtar, Khuzestan province, Iran, examines how different mung bean harvesting techniques and seed moisture levels affect agricultural yield and quality.
The basic problem in leguminous farming is the mechanization of harvesting, which influences cultivation levels and product quality. In legumes, on average, about 20% of the crop is lost at the harvest stage.
This study concentrates on mung bean harvesting in Khuzestan Province, capturing region-specific climatic and agricultural conditions often overlooked by broader research. By combining qualitative and quantitative analyses, it assesses the efficiency, yield, and quality of different harvesting methods while considering local socio-economic factors, with the goal of identifying best practices to boost productivity and livelihoods.This study concentrates on mung bean harvesting in Khuzestan Province, capturing region-specific climatic and agricultural conditions often overlooked by broader research. By combining qualitative and quantitative analyses, it assesses the efficiency, yield, and quality of different harvesting methods while considering local socio-economic factors. The goal is to identify best practices that boost productivity and livelihoods, offering actionable insights for farmers and agronomists. The findings aim to guide sustainable mung bean cultivation in Khuzestan and may inform similar crop-management assessments in other diverse environments.
The findings aim to guide sustainable mung bean cultivation in Khuzestan and may inform similar crop-management assessments in other diverse environments.
Materials and Methods
Experimental design: A complete randomized block design with three replications was employed to assess traits including seed loss, grain breakage, product impurities, harvest duration, and overall yield.
Treatments:
Harvesting methods: manual harvesting, two-stage harvesting (cutting with a reaper followed by combine harvesting), and direct harvesting using a combine.
Seed moisture levels: 12%, 16%, and 20%.
Location and context: The study was conducted in Shushtar, Khuzestan province, Iran, to reflect local climatic and agricultural conditions.
Specific procedures (summarized from the text):
Manual harvest: Crops are cut when humidity is high, banded in the field for drying to avoid crushing immature seeds, typically harvested around 35% moisture with seed moisture dropping below 20% before combining.
Mechanized harvest: Direct harvest by combine, with emphasis on the critical role of moisture during harvesting to balance seed integrity and collection efficiency.
Data analysis: Analysis of variance indicates significant effects of harvesting method, seed moisture, and their interaction on grain breakage and yield (p-values reported in the text: grain breakage significant at 1%; yield and its interaction significant at 1%).
Results and Discussion
Key finding: The highest yield occurred with manual harvesting at 20% seed moisture (1018 kg ha⁻¹). This is attributed to gentler handling and reduced mechanical friction at higher moisture, minimizing shattering and grain loss, and possibly improved seed cohesion reducing breakage during manual lifting and transport.
In contrast, direct harvesting with a combine at 12% moisture produced the lowest yield (931 kg ha⁻¹), likely due to increased seed brittleness and susceptibility to mechanical damage and breakage under high-speed harvesting, leading to greater grain losses and product impurities when seeds are drier.
Across moisture levels, lowering seed moisture to 16% did not significantly impact grain breakage, suggesting the threshold for moisture-related brittleness or cohesion effects on breakage lies outside this narrow range, or that tested harvesters mitigate breakage efficiently at moderate moisture.
The interaction between harvesting method and moisture level subtly influenced other quality traits, such as grain loss and impurities, underscoring the importance of aligning harvesting technique with seed physiology to maximize yield and product quality.
These results emphasize that selecting harvesting methods compatible with seed moisture conditions is essential to optimize mung bean yield and quality. The findings support evidence-based harvesting practices balancing efficiency, grain integrity, and impurity reduction, thereby enhancing productivity and sustainability in mung bean production.
Contextual notes: The two mechanized approaches (manual vs. direct combine) have trade-offs in cost, processing time, and moisture sensitivity. The study also notes the broader issue of mechanization in legume harvesting and the need to consider regional conditions and socio-economic factors when recommending practices.
Conclusion
Selecting harvesting methods compatible with seed moisture conditions is essential to optimize mung bean yield and quality.
The results support evidence-based harvesting practices that balance efficiency, grain integrity, and impurity reduction, thereby enhancing productivity and sustainability in mung bean production.
The study highlights the value of aligning harvesting technique with seed physiology and local environmental conditions to maximize yield while maintaining product quality and reducing losses.Furthermore, the analysis of mung bean genotypes under varying conditions demonstrated the profound effects of environmental factors on crop stability and disease resistance. This illustrates the necessity for thorough assessments of both genotype and environmental conditions to enhance agricultural resilience. In summary, the study underscores the importance of strategically selecting harvesting methods and maintaining optimal grain moisture levels to enhance yield and quality. Continuous improvement in harvesting practices, grounded in empirical analysis, is essential for optimizing agricultural productivity and profitability, ultimately supporting sustainable farming practices.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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