Subtopic: Functional requirements, principles of working, construction and operation of manual, animal, tractor and renewable energy operated equipment for tillage, sowing, planting, fertilizer application, inter-cultivation, spraying, mowing, chaff cutting, harvesting and threshing
Question Statement:
In a combine harvester, grain losses were measured during field testing. Pre-harvest drop loss is $25\text{ kg/ha}$, cutter bar shatter loss is $40\text{ kg/ha}$, cylinder threshing loss is $20\text{ kg/ha}$, straw walker rack loss is $35\text{ kg/ha}$, and shoe cleaning loss is $15\text{ kg/ha}$. If the net grain yield collected in the tank is $3865\text{ kg/ha}$, calculate the total machine loss in $\text{kg/ha}$.
Answer Key:
110
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
Machine loss consists of losses caused by the combine machine components (cutter bar, cylinder, straw rack, cleaning shoe):
$L_{\text{machine}} = L_{\text{cutter}} + L_{\text{cylinder}} + L_{\text{rack}} + L_{\text{shoe}}$
$L_{\text{machine}} = 40 + 20 + 35 + 15 = 110\text{ kg/ha}$
(Note: Pre-harvest drop is a natural weather loss and not attributable to the machine).