Harvesting systems

Various harvesting systems can be observed in different locations. A wide variety of tools may be used such as knives, sickles, animals, stationary threshing machines, tractor-mounted harvesters, and self-propelled combined harvesters.

The most common systems for paddy harvesting are:

• Manual harvesting and threshing
  This includes use of traditional tools for harvesting (e.g., sickles, knives) and threshing (e.g., threshing racks, simple treadle threshers and animals for trampling). A pedal thresher is a simple tool to improve manual threshing.

• Semi-mechanical systems, such as
  
  • Manual reaping and mechanical threshing
    Manual harvesting is done by hand. The use of portable thresher is usually the first step in mechanical threshing. The use of small stationary machine threshers commonly replaces manual threshing given its high labor requirements. Stationary threshing is generally done in the field, or near the field.
    
    
  • Reaping followed by machine threshing 
    Cutting and laying the crop on a windrow is done using a reaper, threshing by a thresher, and cleaning either manually or by machine.

• Combine harvesting
  The combine harvester combines all operations: cutting the crop, feeding it into threshing mechanism, threshing, cleaning, and discharge of grain into a bulk wagon or directly into bags. Straw is usually discharged behind the combine in a windrow.

Table: Advantages and disadvantages of using common harvesting systems