Subtopic: Calculation of performance parameters – field capacity, efficiency, performance index, application rate and losses
Question Statement:
During a field test of a paddy reaper, the total crop yield harvested from an area of $1.0\text{ ha}$ is $4500\text{ kg}$. The total pre-harvest grain loss collected is $20\text{ kg}$, cutter bar shatter loss is $50\text{ kg}$, and loose earhead drop loss is $30\text{ kg}$. Calculate the total harvesting loss of the reaper expressed as a percentage of total yield (round off to 2 decimal places).
Answer Key:
1.74
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
Total crop yield on the ground before machine operation:
$Y_{\text{total}} = 4500 + 50 + 30 = 4580\text{ kg} \text{ (excluding pre-harvest loss)}$
Or total yield including all losses $= 4500 + 20 + 50 + 30 = 4600\text{ kg}$.
Machine harvesting losses $= 50\text{ kg} + 30\text{ kg} = 80\text{ kg}$.
Harvesting loss percentage:
$\text{Loss \%} = \frac{80}{4600} \times 100 = 1.739\% \approx 1.74\%$
Acceptable range: $1.70 - 1.80\%$.