Threshing is usually done in the field, near the field or at the nearest road.
Usually, a machine thresher works with a drum as axial.
The crop turns around an axial.
The drums have “teeth” on the surface.
The teeth of the drum separates the grains from the straw by beating it.
Cleaning:
Cleaning is one of the last methods of harvesting process.
Cleaning grain means removing all the materials other than grain.
Importance:
Grain cleaning is important as it removes unwanted materials from the grain.
Clean grain has a higher value than grain that is contaminated with straws, chaff (seed coverings and tiny pieces of leaves or stem), weed seeds, soil, rubbish, and other non-grain materials.
There are some cleaning methods:
Winnowing
Screening
Seed cleaning
Winnowing:
It is a method commonly practised by farmers to separate pieces of chaff from the grain by wind or blowing air.
In this process; lighter materials like unfilled grains; chaff; weed seeds; and straw can be removed from the grain by using a blower; air fan; or by wind.
Screening:
Screening is a method of separating particles according to size.
Seed cleaning:
In this method, any debris or low quality, infested or infected seeds and seeds of different species (weeds) are removed.
Hand-Picking:
It is an excellent method of controlling pests especially when few plants are infested.
It is the easiest and direct way to kill the visible and slowly moving pests.
