To obtain a rich harvest of winter wheat, you need to be able to correctly determine the level of grain maturity. It is imperative that, in suitable weather, to plan the timing and method of the upcoming harvest, to prepare the necessary grain harvesting and auxiliary equipment, to appoint specialists responsible for harvesting, transporting and storing grain.
How to determine the time of harvesting winter wheat?
Agronomists monitor the ripening of winter wheat and its condition. It is they who, measuring the moisture content of the grain with the help of moisture meters, paying attention to the appearance and structure of the future bread, make a decision on the need to start harvesting.
The degree of maturity of wheat depends on the moisture content in it:
- Milk maturity. The humidity level is 60-70%. Comes 10-18 days from the beginning of flowering. The grain reaches its pre-harvest size, fills the entire spike. When pressed, a white, jelly-like liquid is released. At this time, the ear is poured, accumulates nutrients.
- Wax maturity. Humidity 35-45%. Comes 2 weeks after the end of the milk maturity phase. The green color of the grain changes to yellow. Only the groove remains green. It is well cut with a fingernail, but not crushed. At the end of the period, the internal grain consistency resembles wax. The leaves begin to dry.
- Full maturity. Humidity is 12-20%. The leaves fall off, the grain becomes hard and dry, and begins to crumble.
You can measure the amount of water in wheat chemically... It is more accurate than moisture meter measurements. For this:
- Cut 20 ears of wheat with a stem of 20 cm and place them in a 1% solution of eosin.
- Leave for 3 hours.
- During this time, the plants turn red, the intensity of which determines the level of maturity of the grain. The lighter the color, the more mature the grain. At the end of the supply of nutrients to the ear, that is, in the phase of full maturity, the color of the ear of wheat, after the chemical method for determining the moisture content, practically does not change.
Measurements of grain moisture at the onset of wax maturity are made daily. With control figures of 20-22%, a control threshing is performed. To do this, the grain is mowed in samples along the diagonal of the field, and then threshed and the readiness of the grain for continuous harvesting is assessed. In case of positive results, the grain is mowed along the perimeter of the field, and the area under crops is divided into identical sections.
Harvest Dates
Upon making a decision to start harvesting, harvesting events are organized. The necessary amount of equipment is selected, experienced qualified workers are appointed. The work schedule of the involved specialists is often subject to changes in favor of early threshing of grain.
Harvesting begins when the moisture content of the grain is not more than 20%. By the term of the harvest should be kept within 3-4 days, otherwise the wheat will begin to ripen and crumble. The yield loss in this case can reach 40-60%.
Methods of harvesting winter wheat
The choice of a method for harvesting winter wheat depends on the ripeness of the cereal, weediness of crops, weather conditions and the availability of equipment on the farm.
Direct combine
A harvester is a complex agricultural machine that combines 3 types of work: harvesting, threshing and winding. It mows the wheat and directs it along the escalator to the threshing and separating compartment. There the plant is crushed, and the beaters beat the grains out of it. Through the bottom holes, grain with small debris enters the sifter. In it they are separated. From the threshing compartment, straw, empty ears and grain residues are transferred to the straw-shaking chamber. Here the straw is finally thrown into the field and the grain is transported to the hopper. From it - it is discharged into cars for transportation to current and to granaries.
Direct combining is most advisable when the ripening of ears in the field occurs evenly, and the presence of weeds is minimal on the crops themselves.
Direct combine harvesting is the most common harvesting method. This method of wheat harvesting is used when the grain moisture content is no more than 15%. The work is carried out by combines DON-1500, E-525, E-527, etc. Thus, all work from mowing to cleaning grain is carried out in one phase, that is, one type of equipment. The use of combines reduced the time required for harvesting wheat and increased its gross yield. The process has become more streamlined.
Separate collection method
With a high weediness of the wheat field with weeds or perennial grass, dense sowing of cereal, as well as when the ear is ripening unevenly in the area under crops, harvesting is carried out by a separate method. This should be done at the beginning of waxy maturity, with a wheat moisture content of 30-35%. With this method of harvesting winter wheat, grain is most valuable for baking, and the beneficial properties are higher.
First, the crop is mowed and separate swaths are formed, which are left to dry in the field. To prevent the shafts from touching the ground when drying out, the plants are cut at a height of 15-25 cm from it. Then, after 2-3 days and the humidity drops to 17-20%, the combine equipped with a pick-up picks them up and threshes them, chopping up the straw. A long time interval between these works should not be allowed, otherwise the grain may crumble or weather conditions deteriorate. After work on the field, the floor collectors pass, collecting additional animal feed.
Pros and cons of the split method
The positive aspects of the separate harvesting method for winter wheat include:
- obtaining high-quality baking grain;
- the minimum amount of grain losses associated with the self-filling of the ear;
- makes it possible to start cleaning earlier;
- facilitation of work for the combine, associated with the drying of the green part of the plant.
But a separate method of harvesting grain has its drawbacks:
- dependence on weather conditions;
- attracting a large number and types of equipment;
- increase in costs, and hence the cost of grain.
Single phase harvesting
One-phase harvesting is used in sunny weather, or after 4 hours after rain. Its cost and energy consumption are significantly lower than with two-phase (separate) harvesting. This method is used to harvest from seed plots of fields, since the percentage of seed germination is much higher than with other types of collection.
In practice, a mixed harvesting method is used more often. They begin harvesting in a separate (two-phase) way, and as the grain ripens, or worsening weather conditions, a single-phase harvesting method is connected.
The amount of the obtained harvest is estimated in centners of grain from 1 hectare of area (centners / ha).
Watch a video on how winter wheat is harvested:
Harvest Storage
Storage facilities for storing wheat crops must be dry, before laying the grain with treated disinfectant solutions. The grain in them is stored in bulk.
For the preservation of winter wheat, a good ventilation system is mandatory, the air temperature in the warehouses is maintained at 5-8 ºС, and the ambient humidity is from 65 to 70%. The grain should be stirred periodically to avoid self-heating and debate.
The main task of the granary is to maintain the quality and mass of grain.
If the storage technology of wheat is violated, and the temperature rises to 11-15 ºС, the grain is at high risk of contracting diseases and pests. With an increase in humidity and the absence of mixing, the crop cakes and rots. Becomes unusable.
The shelf life of seed wheat is not more than 12-14 months.
Subject to all storage rules, grain is stored up to 4 years.
Home storage
To store wheat at home, it is necessary to have a concrete room upholstered in metal. At home, wheat seed grains are stored in small portions in fabric bags, placing them in a canopy. You can use glass containers. Then, before filling, it is recommended to dry the grain well in the sun, and carefully monitor the humidity during storage.
Large volumes of grain are poured into bags, which are stacked on wooden pallets. This prevents the penetration and accumulation of moisture in them.
Regardless of the chosen method of harvesting winter wheat, the term of work should not exceed 5-7 days. Otherwise, it is unlikely that it will be possible to avoid large grain losses; moreover, its quality is significantly reduced. Therefore, it is very important to soberly assess your capabilities and take a responsible approach to the process itself.