The Effect Of Moisture Content Of Cereal Crops On The Performance Of Melkasa Muti-Crop Thresher

Abstract

Cereal Grains Are Growing In Greater Quantities Worldwide Than The Other Crops And Supply More Food Energy To The Humankind However, Harvesting And Threshing Operation Of Such Crops Are Affected By Moisture Content. Therefore, The Main Objective Of This Study Was To Evaluate The Effect Of Moisture Content On The Threshing Performance. Evaluation Was Carried Out By Measuring The Initial Moisture Content And Then By Adding Water To The Crops, The Desired Moisture Content Was Achieved. The Dimension Of The Grains Was Determined. Completely Randomized Design (Crd) With Three Replications Was Used To Determine The Effect Of Threshing Efficiency, Threshing Capacity, Fuel Consumption, Breakage Of Grain, Germination Rate, Percentage Of Unthreshed Grain And Blower Loss At 14%, 18%, And 22% Moisture Content For Barley, Wheat, And Teff Selected Varieties. Statistical Analysis Was Made By (Sas-8) Software. The Results Indicated That, As The Crop Moisture Content Increase, The Dimension Of Grain, Sphericity Of Seed, Angle Of Repose, Thousand Grain Mass, Fuel Consumption, And Coefficient Of Friction Were Also Increased. Whereas, Threshing Capacity, And Efficiency, Cleaning Efficiency, Density, Germination Rate, And Grain Breakages Were Deceased. This Study Concluded That For Low Fuel Consumption, Low Unthreshed Grain And Better Threshing, The Moisture Content Of The Crops Should Be Between 14% To 18%.