Sunflower harvesting

Abstract

Over the period 1993-97 at the Institute for Wheat and Sunflower “Dobroudja” as well as in the production under the new agricultural conditions investigations were conducted concerning the obtained sunflower produce by means of some new grain harvest combines - Claas Dominator 108 SL, “MAXI”, Don-1500 A as well as the rotary combine Case 1666 aggregated with devices for sunflower harvesting MA 922, PSP-10, Case 1030 and PSP-1.5, respectively. Investigations were conducted when harvesting sunflower hybrid Albena.

When harvesting sunflower it is necessary to aggregate the grain harvest combines with devices possessing active gripping - transporting operating mechanisms being of the MA 922, PSP-10 and PSP-1.5 type. Devices Case 1030 designed for sunflower have passive lifter operating mechanisms do not meet the agrotechnical requirements. Regarding the threshing quality the results suggest, that in certain conditions the combines Claas Dominator 108 SL, “MAXI” and Don-1500 A coned comply with the purpose they are designed for. Very good results were obtained from the rotary combine Case 1666. Sound seeds reached 96 %, broken seeds - up to 1.0 %, and the naked ones - up to 0.2 %. There is a tendency towards decreasing the mechanical seed damage when increasing the loading of the combine.