Tartary buckwheat mechanized efficient harvesting method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of agriculture, in particular to a mechanized efficient tartary buckwheat harvesting method which comprises the following steps: cutting plants at a position 10-15 cm away from the ground by adopting a cutter-rower, and keeping the ground clearance of the bottom ears of formed strip paving at 20-30 cm to form a natural ventilation channel; the green seeds are cut and dried in the sun and then laid in the field for 3-5 days without turning over, uniform drying is promoted through the fluffy structure of the plants, and the green seeds are subjected to after-ripening and synchronous dehydration in the laid strips; a threshing machine is adopted to operate the aired strip-shaped laying, a threshing device of the threshing machine drives a roller with an elastic element at the rotating speed of 400-600 rpm, seeds are separated through mutual rubbing of plants under the large gap of 15-25 mm, the breakage rate of the seeds is smaller than 2%, and the comprehensive loss rate is smaller than 5%. And scientific harvesting opportunity, energy saving in the airing process and low loss of threshing operation can be achieved, and the efficiency, quality and economic benefits of mechanical harvesting of tartary buckwheat are greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural technology, and in particular to a mechanized and efficient method for harvesting buckwheat. Background Technology

[0002] Buckwheat, an important specialty grain crop in southwestern my country, not only has high nutritional and medicinal value but also plays a crucial role in crop rotation, soil improvement, and ensuring regional food security. However, the development of the buckwheat industry has long been severely constrained, with its core bottleneck being outdated production methods, particularly its heavy reliance on manual labor during harvesting.

[0003] Traditional manual harvesting methods typically involve multiple steps, including manual sickle harvesting, field drying, manual threshing (such as threshing with a flail or rolling with a stone roller), and cleaning. This method has the following significant drawbacks: The work is labor-intensive and extremely inefficient: the stems of buckwheat plants are thin, have many branches, and mature at different times, making manual harvesting slow and the working conditions harsh in the high-altitude, high-sunlight environment.

[0004] High loss rate: Buckwheat kernels are triangular achenes with thin and brittle husks, making them prone to breakage. During manual harvesting, handling, and threshing, the kernels are easily broken or detached due to collisions and compression, resulting in severe yield losses. The overall field loss rate is often as high as 15%-25%.

[0005] Quality is difficult to guarantee: Artificial sun drying is greatly affected by the weather. If it rains, the cut plants cannot dry in time and are very prone to mold, which will cause the seeds to darken in color, produce an off-odor, and even breed harmful substances such as aflatoxin, seriously affecting the quality of the product and food safety. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a mechanized and efficient method for harvesting buckwheat, which aims to achieve scientific harvesting timing, energy-saving drying process, and low loss in threshing operation, thereby significantly improving the efficiency, quality, and economic benefits of mechanized buckwheat harvesting.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a mechanized and efficient method for harvesting buckwheat, which includes harvesting when more than 75% of the grains on the main stem and primary branches in the field have reached physiological maturity, and when the weather forecast predicts that the daily maximum temperature will be 20-30℃, the daily average relative humidity will be less than 60%, and there will be no precipitation for the next 3-5 consecutive days. Use a stalk cutter to cut the plants 10-15 cm above the ground, so that the bottom of the strip is 20-30 cm above the ground, forming a natural ventilation channel; After harvesting and drying, the seeds are laid out in strips and left to dry in the field for 3 to 5 days without being turned over. The loose structure of the plants themselves promotes even drying, allowing the green seeds to complete ripening and dehydrate simultaneously within the strips. A threshing machine is used to process the dried strips. The threshing device drives a roller with elastic elements at a speed of 400-600 rpm. The grains are separated by rubbing between the plants with a large gap of 15-25 mm, so that the grain breakage rate is less than 2% and the overall loss rate is less than 5%.

[0008] Physiological maturity is characterized by a seed coat color ranging from dark brown to black.

[0009] The specific steps involved in using a harvester to cut the plants at a height of 10-15 cm above the ground, maintaining the bottom of the strip at a height of 20-30 cm above the ground to create a natural ventilation channel, include: After the buckwheat reaches physiological maturity, a harvester is used to work along the direction of travel in the field. Adjust the cutter of the harvester to a position 10-15 cm above the ground, and cut the buckwheat plant at this height; The strip-laying device of the harvester lays the cut buckwheat plants horizontally and orderly on the cleared ground to form continuous strips. Taking advantage of the fact that buckwheat plants reach a height of 60–100 cm at maturity, strips cut to a height of 10–15 cm are laid out so that, under natural overlapping conditions, the bottom of the ear closest to the ground maintains a vertical gap of 20–30 cm between it and the ground surface.

[0010] The cutting height of 10-15 cm is achieved by adjusting the depth-limiting ground wheel configured on the scorching machine, with a control accuracy of ±1 cm.

[0011] The threshing drum of the threshing machine is provided with flexible rubber ridges or nylon brush bundles distributed along the axial direction, which generate controllable deformation during the kneading process, further buffering the impact force on the grains.

[0012] The strips are laid with a width of 70-90 cm, and adjacent plants are staggered to maintain the overall loose structure of the strips and prevent the middle from collapsing and touching the ground.

[0013] The natural ventilation channel increases the airflow velocity at the bottom of the strip by 2 to 3 times and reduces the relative humidity by 10 to 15 percentage points, thereby controlling the grain mold rate to below 5% within 48 hours after rain.

[0014] The specific steps involved in laying the harvested and dried seeds in strips in the field for 3-5 days without turning them over, utilizing the plant's own loose structure to promote uniform drying, and allowing the green seeds to complete ripening and dehydrate simultaneously within the strips, include: After the mechanized harvesting and drying operations are completed and the strips are laid out, the strips are left to stand still in their original positions in the field, without any turning, shaking or re-laying operations. By utilizing the internal air microchannels formed by the aforementioned fluffy structure, the uniform distribution and continuous exchange of temperature and humidity inside the strip pavement can be achieved under the influence of natural light and wind. During the 3-5 day resting period, the immature green seeds in the strips continue to undergo physiological ripening under suitable temperature and humidity conditions, while simultaneously dehydrating with the mature seeds. This ultimately reduces the moisture content of the entire batch of seeds to below 14%, and the green seed conversion rate reaches over 90%.

[0015] The loose structure allows the daytime maximum temperature inside the strip to be 2-5°C higher than the outside temperature, while slowing down the nighttime cooling rate, thus creating a microclimate environment conducive to starch conversion and gradient diffusion of moisture.

[0016] The present invention provides a mechanized and efficient method for harvesting buckwheat, which includes harvesting when more than 75% of the grains on the main stem and primary branches in the field reach physiological maturity, and when the weather forecast predicts that the daily maximum temperature will be 20-30℃, the daily average relative humidity will be less than 60%, and there will be no precipitation for the next 3-5 consecutive days. Use a stalk cutter to cut the plants 10-15 cm above the ground, so that the bottom of the strip is 20-30 cm above the ground, forming a natural ventilation channel; After harvesting and drying, the seeds are laid out in strips and left to dry in the field for 3 to 5 days without being turned over. The loose structure of the plants themselves promotes even drying, allowing the green seeds to complete ripening and dehydrate simultaneously within the strips. A threshing machine is used to process the dried strips. The threshing device drives a roller with elastic elements at a speed of 400-600 rpm. The grains are separated by rubbing between the plants with a large gap of 15-25 mm, so that the grain breakage rate is less than 2% and the overall loss rate is less than 5%.

[0017] By setting the harvest starting point at "more than 75% of the grains on the main stem and first-level branches reaching physiological maturity," and considering the weather conditions for the next 3-5 days (daily maximum temperature 20-30℃, relative humidity <60%, no precipitation), this ensures that most grains are ready for harvest while utilizing suitable temperature and humidity to promote subsequent field drying and dehydration. This effectively avoids problems such as high green grain rate, mold, or grain loss caused by harvesting too early or too late. The harvester cuts at a height of 10-15 cm above the ground, leaving the bottom of the strip 20-30 cm above the ground, forming a stable elevated layer. This structure significantly improves air circulation within the strip, accelerates moisture evaporation, and reduces the risk of mold caused by the ear contact with damp ground, creating favorable conditions for uniform drying. After harvesting and drying, the strip is left to stand for 3-5 days without being turned over, relying on the natural loose shape of the buckwheat plant to maintain permeability, allowing the immature green grains to safely complete ripening and dehydrate simultaneously within the strip. This measure not only saves on the cost of manual drying, but also avoids damage to the ears or loss of grains caused by mechanical disturbance, thus improving the overall harvest quality.

[0018] Employing rollers with elastic elements, the process operates at 400–600 rpm and a large gap of 15–25 mm, separating the grains through gentle rubbing between the plants rather than forceful impact. This design significantly reduces mechanical damage, keeping the grain breakage rate below 2% and the overall loss rate below 5%, far superior to traditional threshing methods, effectively preserving the nutritional quality and commercial value of buckwheat.

[0019] This method enables scientific harvesting timing, energy-saving drying process, and low-loss threshing operation, significantly improving the efficiency, quality, and economic benefits of mechanized buckwheat harvesting. It is particularly suitable for promotion and application in large-scale planting areas. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a mechanized and efficient method for harvesting buckwheat according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 The flowchart of this invention describes a process of using a harvester to cut plants at a height of 10-15 cm above the ground, so that the bottom of the strip is kept at a height of 20-30 cm above the ground, thus forming a natural ventilation channel.

[0023] Figure 3 This invention describes a process for drying and then laying the harvested seeds in strips in the field for 3-5 days without turning them over. The process utilizes the plant's own loose structure to promote uniform drying, allowing the green seeds to complete ripening and dehydrate simultaneously within the strips. Detailed Implementation

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0025] Please see Figures 1-3 This invention provides a mechanized and efficient method for harvesting buckwheat, comprising: S101 should be harvested when more than 75% of the grains on the main stem and first-level branches in the field reach physiological maturity, and the weather forecast predicts that the daily maximum temperature will be 20-30℃, the daily average relative humidity will be less than 60%, and there will be no precipitation for the next 3-5 consecutive days. Physiological maturity is characterized by a seed coat color ranging from dark brown to black.

[0026] In buckwheat production, the timing of harvesting has a decisive impact on grain quality and subsequent processing performance. To ensure the optimal harvest window, a dual assessment of physiological maturity and meteorological conditions is necessary.

[0027] Physiological maturity should be judged based on more than 75% of the grains on the main stem and first-level branches reaching physiological maturity. The term "physiological maturity" here specifically refers to the completion of dry matter accumulation in the grains, the entry into the dehydration stage, and the change in seed coat color from light brown to dark brown to nearly blackish brown, with the internal structure becoming denser.

[0028] Meteorological conditions must meet the following requirements: no precipitation for the next 3-5 consecutive days, daily maximum temperature remaining stable between 20-30℃, and daily average relative humidity below 60%. This temperature and humidity combination is conducive to the natural drying of grains in the rows after harvesting: moderate temperature avoids high-temperature exposure that could cause seed coat cracking or oil oxidation, while low humidity accelerates moisture evaporation and inhibits mold growth. If a risk of rainfall is forecast, harvesting should be postponed to prevent the ears from becoming damp and developing mold or sprouting.

[0029] Mechanized harvesting and drying operations can only be initiated when both of the above conditions are met simultaneously, in order to maximize the marketability and storage stability of the grains.

[0030] S102 uses a stalk cutter to cut the plants 10-15 cm above the ground, so that the bottom of the strip is kept 20-30 cm above the ground, forming a natural ventilation channel. The specific steps include: After the buckwheat reaches physiological maturity, S201 uses a harvester to work along the direction of field movement. After confirming that the buckwheat has reached physiological maturity and meets the meteorological window, start the operation in the early morning or late afternoon when humidity is low. The harvester moves at a constant speed along the direction of the planting rows in the field to ensure that the cutting trajectory is consistent with the arrangement of the plants, reduce missed or double cutting, and improve the uniformity of the strips.

[0031] S202 Adjust the cutter of the harvester to a position 10-15 cm above the ground, and cut the buckwheat plant at this height; The cutting height of 10-15 cm is achieved by adjusting the depth-limiting ground wheel configured on the scorching machine, with a control accuracy of ±1 cm.

[0032] The cutter of the harvester is precisely adjusted to a height of 10–15 cm above the ground using its matching depth-limiting wheel system. This depth-limiting device has a control accuracy of ±1 cm, effectively adapting to the micro-topographical undulations in the field and ensuring a consistent cutting height across the entire field. This height setting is based on the biological characteristic that buckwheat plants typically reach a height of 60–100 cm at maturity—too low a height allows soil impurities to be introduced, while too high a height results in excessive residual stems, affecting subsequent drying or harvesting efficiency.

[0033] S203 uses the strip-laying device of the stalk-drying machine to lay the cut buckwheat plants horizontally and orderly on the cut ground to form continuous strips; After being cut, the stalks are laid horizontally and orderly on adjacent cleared land by the strip-forming device integrated into the harvester (such as a reel, conveyor belt, and spreading mechanism), forming continuous, loose, and oriented strips. The width and density of the strips are optimized according to the machine model and field conditions to balance ventilation and land utilization.

[0034] S204 utilizes the biological characteristics of buckwheat plants, which reach a height of 60–100 cm at maturity, to ensure that the strips formed after being cut to a height of 10–15 cm maintain a vertical gap of 20–30 cm between the bottom of the ear closest to the ground and the ground surface under natural overlapping conditions.

[0035] The natural ventilation channel increases the air velocity at the bottom of the strip by 2 to 3 times and reduces the relative humidity by 10 to 15 percentage points, thereby controlling the grain mold rate to below 5% within 48 hours after rain.

[0036] Since the original height of the plants is 60-100 cm, after being cut 10-15 cm from the base, the remaining stems and spikes, in a naturally overlapping state, still allow the bottom spike to hang 20-30 cm off the ground. This vertical gap forms an effective natural ventilation channel. Actual measurement data shows that this structure can increase the air velocity near the ground surface at the bottom of the strip-laying area by 2-3 times, and reduce the local relative humidity by 10-15 percentage points compared to the surrounding environment. This improved microclimate significantly accelerates the grain dehydration process and, even after occasional light rain, can rapidly remove moisture within 48 hours, strictly controlling the grain mold rate to below 5%, far superior to traditional flat-laying or stacking methods.

[0037] After harvesting and drying, S103 plants are laid out in strips and left to dry in the field for 3-5 days without being turned over. The loose structure of the plants themselves promotes uniform drying, allowing the green seeds to complete ripening and dehydrate simultaneously within the strips. The specific steps include: After completing the mechanized harvesting and drying operation and forming strips, S301 places the strips in their original field location without any turning, shaking or re-laying operations. After harvesting and drying, all strips should be left in place in the field, and any form of turning, shaking, re-laying, or trampling is strictly prohibited. This is to preserve the plant spatial arrangement established by the harvester – staggered stems supporting each other, ears suspended in the air, and clear ventilation gaps at the bottom. Any artificial turning will disrupt the natural overlapping structure between plants, causing ears to lie flat on the ground and ventilation channels to collapse, increasing the risk of localized moisture accumulation and inducing mold or grain germination.

[0038] During the resting period, field warning signs should be set up and passage by people and livestock should be avoided to ensure that the strip-laying structure remains stable for 3 to 5 days. This "undisturbed" principle is a prerequisite for ensuring uniform drying and efficient conversion of green seeds.

[0039] S302 utilizes the internal air microchannels formed by the aforementioned fluffy structure to achieve uniform distribution and continuous exchange of temperature and humidity inside the strip paving under the influence of natural light and wind. Mature buckwheat plants possess a naturally porous and fluffy structure: hollow stems, dry and curled leaves, and loose rachis, combined with the 20-30 cm ventilation gaps at the bottom formed after harvesting and drying, create a three-dimensional network of internal air microchannels. During the day, driven by sunlight and natural wind, hot, dry air enters the strips through these gaps, flows upwards through the microchannels, and carries away the transpired moisture from the grains. At night, the plant's insulating effect slows heat loss, forming a relatively stable temperature and humidity buffer layer.

[0040] Actual measurement data shows that this microclimate environment has the following characteristics: During the day, the highest temperature inside the strip is 2-5°C higher than the outside temperature, which is conducive to accelerating enzymatic reactions and moisture evaporation. The rate of cooling at night is reduced by 30% to 50% to avoid drastic temperature differences that could cause the grain skin to crack. The fluctuation range of internal relative humidity has decreased, and the difference between day and night humidity has been controlled within 15 percentage points, providing stable conditions for the future.

[0041] This dynamically balanced microenvironment allows for a gradient distribution and continuous exchange of temperature and humidity from the outside to the inside and from top to bottom in the strip-laying process, effectively preventing localized over-drying or over-wetting and ensuring the uniformity of drying throughout the entire batch of grains.

[0042] During the 3-5 day resting period, the immature green seeds in the strips continue to undergo physiological ripening under suitable temperature and humidity conditions, while simultaneously dehydrating with the mature seeds. This ultimately reduces the moisture content of the entire batch of seeds to below 14%, and the green seed conversion rate reaches over 90%.

[0043] The loose structure allows the daytime maximum temperature inside the strip to be 2-5°C higher than the outside temperature, while slowing down the nighttime cooling rate, creating a microclimate environment conducive to starch conversion and gradient diffusion of moisture.

[0044] During the 3-5 days of resting, approximately 5%-15% of the immature green seeds in the strips did not cease physiological activity. On the contrary, under the aforementioned microclimate conditions, post-ripening processes such as starch synthesis, protein accumulation, and dehydration shrinkage continued to occur inside them. Due to the suitable temperature and humidity inside the strips (average daily temperature 20-28℃, relative humidity 40%-60%), the respiratory metabolism and material conversion efficiency of the green seeds were significantly improved.

[0045] During this period: The unripe grains maintain limited water and nutrient transport through the rachis and residual tissues of the mother plant to complete the final stage of grain filling; As the overall ambient humidity decreases, green seeds and mature seeds dehydrate simultaneously, with the moisture gradient spreading from the inside out, avoiding shrinkage or cracking caused by differences in dehydration rates. By the end of the resting period, the moisture content of the entire batch of grains can be stably reduced to below 14% (meeting the national food security storage standards), and the physiological conversion rate of green grains reaches over 90%, significantly improving product consistency and processing yield (rice or flour).

[0046] S104 uses a threshing machine to process the dried strips. Its threshing device drives a roller with elastic elements at a speed of 400-600 rpm. The grains are separated by rubbing between the plants with a large gap of 15-25 mm, so that the grain breakage rate is less than 2% and the overall loss rate is less than 5%.

[0047] The threshing drum of the threshing machine is provided with flexible rubber ridges or nylon brush bundles distributed along the axial direction. The elastic modulus is 10–50 MPa. During the kneading process, it generates controllable deformation, which further buffers the impact force on the grain.

[0048] The strips are laid with a width of 70-90 cm, and adjacent plants are staggered to maintain the overall loose structure of the strips and prevent the middle from collapsing and touching the ground.

[0049] After being laid out in strips and allowed to air dry naturally in the field for 3-5 days until the grain moisture content drops below 14% and the green seed conversion rate reaches over 90%, the grains enter the mechanized threshing stage. The core objective of this stage is to minimize grain breakage and field losses while ensuring a high threshing rate. To this end, a low-impact, flexible threshing machine specifically designed for small-diameter, thin-coated grains such as buckwheat is used. Its operating logic integrates mechanical kneading dynamics, elastic cushioning material science, and strip-laying structure adaptability design. The specific implementation is as follows: The core component of the threshing machine is a drum-type threshing device with elastic elements, whose operating speed is strictly controlled within the range of 400–600 rpm. This speed range has been verified through extensive field trials. When the rotation speed is below 400 rpm, the kneading force is insufficient, resulting in a decrease in the threshing rate and an increase in the number of residual ears. A speed above 600 rpm results in excessive impact energy, which can easily cause the seed coat to crack or the embryo to be damaged. This is especially detrimental to buckwheat seeds whose moisture content has dropped to the safe threshold (<14%) but whose seed coat is still relatively brittle.

[0050] A large gap of 15–25 mm is set between the drum and the concave plate, significantly larger than that of traditional grain threshers (usually ≤10 mm). This design is not an oversight, but rather based on the characteristics of buckwheat plants—dry and hard mature stalks, loose rachis, and shallow kernel attachment. The large gap allows the entire plant or large sections of the plant to pass smoothly through the threshing chamber. Driven by the rotation of the drum, the plants rub and collide with each other in a multi-directional, low-frequency, high-amplitude manner, rather than with rigid impact. This "group rubbing" mechanism effectively separates the kernels while avoiding high stress concentration at a single point.

[0051] To further reduce mechanical damage, the threshing drum surface does not use traditional steel nails or textured bar structures, but instead integrates flexible elements evenly distributed along the axial direction, specifically including: The flexible rubber protrusions are made of natural / synthetic rubber composite material with a Shore hardness of 60–80 A and an elastic modulus controlled at 10–50 MPa. Or high-density nylon brush bundles: monofilament diameter 0.8–1.2 mm, bristle density ≥1200 bristles / dm 2 It also has a similar range of elastic moduli.

[0052] This type of material can produce controllable and recoverable elastic deformation during the threshing process: when the plant enters the threshing zone, the flexible element is compressed and bends, absorbing some of the impact energy; then, during the rebound process, it releases energy, forming a "gentle push-slow release" threshing force. Experiments show that this design can reduce the peak impact force on the grain by 35% to 50%, thereby stabilizing the grain breakage rate below 2% (the national standard is ≤5%), and especially protecting the integrity of the seed coat, which is rich in flavonoid active ingredients.

[0053] The threshing effect depends not only on the machine itself, but also on the state of the fed material. This process requires the strips to form an ideal shape with a width of 70-90 cm, uniform height, and loose internal structure during the cutting and drying stage. The key is: When adjacent plants are laid out, they are staggered and overlapped, with the stems supporting each other to form a stable three-dimensional framework; The middle section of the strip should not collapse or touch the ground, ensuring that the entire strip is permeable and consistently dry; This structure maintains a certain degree of integrity when picked up and fed into the threshing machine, preventing it from breaking into individual plants, thus maintaining the material density and flowability required for "group kneading" in the threshing chamber.

[0054] If the strips are laid too narrow (<70 cm), the feed amount will be insufficient, easily leading to the threshing chamber running idle and low efficiency; if they are too wide (90 cm) or collapse, the moist plants in the middle will mix in, increasing the risk of blockage and increasing the local breakage rate. Therefore, a strip width of 70-90 cm is the optimal range that balances feed stability, threshing uniformity, and damage prevention.

[0055] Under the synergistic effect of the above parameters, the entire threshing system achieves the following performance indicators: Grain breakage rate < 2%: ensuring the integrity of product appearance and nutrition; Overall loss rate < 5% (including unthreshed loss, spillage loss and entrainment loss): far superior to the traditional baling + fixed threshing mode (usually 8% to 12%). Desorption rate ≥ 98%: Ensures efficient resource recovery; With an operating efficiency of 0.3–0.5 ha / h, it is suitable for the large-scale production needs of small and medium-sized farms.

[0056] In addition, the flexible threshing element has a low wear rate and a long replacement cycle, and it is well adaptable to mixed grains of different maturity levels (including a small amount of residual green grains), which further improves the robustness and practicality of the system.

[0057] Weining Yi, Hui and Miao Autonomous County (hereinafter referred to as "Weining County"), Bijie City, Guizhou Province, is located in the northwest of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, with an average altitude of 2,200 meters and a typical high-altitude cold mountain climate. The local average annual temperature is about 10.5℃, with a short frost-free period (120-150 days), large diurnal temperature range, and abundant sunshine. Traditional buckwheat harvesting relies on manual cutting, drying, bundling, and threshing, which is inefficient, results in high losses, and poses a high risk of mold. To improve the industry's efficiency, this embodiment was first applied in a 500-mu contiguous buckwheat demonstration field in Liangshan Village, Shuanglong Town, Weining County in August 2020. Subsequently, technical verification and optimization were carried out in Shuanglong Town, Yina Town, Yancang Town, and Longjie Town in Weining County. In September 2023, the mechanized and efficient buckwheat harvesting method described in this invention was fully applied for the first time in a 1,500-mu contiguous buckwheat demonstration field in Xiongying Village, Bandi Township, Weining County.

[0058] A field survey on September 14 revealed that the seed coat color of the seeds on the main stem and first-level branches had changed from light brown to dark brown to almost black, accounting for 82%.

[0059] According to the forecast released by the Weining County Meteorological Bureau on September 14, there will be no precipitation in the next 5 days (September 14-28), with daily high temperatures of 23-25℃ and daily average relative humidity of 52%-58%, which fully meets the requirements of "no rain for 3-5 consecutive days, temperature of 20-30℃, and humidity <60%".

[0060] Based on comprehensive assessment, mechanized harvesting and drying operations were initiated at 9:30 AM on September 14th.

[0061] The 4GSS-1.8 self-propelled slasher is used (equipped with depth-limiting ground wheels, and the cutting height is adjustable with an accuracy of ±1 cm).

[0062] Operation parameter settings: Cutting height: 12 cm (precisely adjustable via depth-limiting wheels); Direction of movement: Plant at a uniform speed along the north-south planting rows (row spacing 40 cm); Strip laying formation: The spreading mechanism lays the plants horizontally and orderly in adjacent empty rows to form a continuous strip with a width of 80 cm and the bottom spikelet 25 cm off the ground.

[0063] Post-operation measurements showed that the ventilation gap at the bottom of the strip paving remained stable at 22–28 cm, the anemometer measured the air velocity at the bottom of the strip paving at 0.8 m / s (compared to only 0.3 m / s on the surrounding bare ground), the relative humidity decreased by 12 percentage points, and the microclimate conditions were ideal.

[0064] From September 15th to 18th, the 50-mu (approximately 3.3 hectares) strip of land remained undisturbed, and warning fences were set up around the plots to prohibit people and livestock from entering.

[0065] During the day, the highest temperature inside the strip floor reaches 26.5℃ (outside temperature 23.2℃); the cooling rate at night is 40% slower than that of bare ground; and the internal humidity is controlled between 45% and 60%.

[0066] On the 5th day of standing (September 18), the average moisture content of the whole batch of seeds dropped to 13.6%; the initial green seed ratio was about 12%, of which 91% had turned into dark brown mature seeds; there was no mold or germination, and the mold rate was <1%.

[0067] A TL-500 flexible threshing machine was used, equipped with nylon brush rollers (elastic modulus 35 MPa). The roller speed was set to 520 rpm, and the roller-concave plate gap was adjusted to 20 mm. The strip width was maintained at 75–85 cm, with good overlapping of plants and no collapse or contact with the ground.

[0068] The results were as follows: grain breakage rate: 1.7%; overall loss rate (including unthreshed grains and spillage): 4.3%; Cleanliness rate: 98.6%; The finished seeds have a uniform color and intact seed coat. The flavonoid content is 2.85%, which is better than the artificially harvested samples of the same period (2.61%). All of them meet the first-class standard.

[0069] This embodiment successfully verified the adaptability, reliability, and economy of the harvesting method in the high-altitude and cold mountainous area of ​​Weining: compared with traditional manual harvesting, the operation efficiency is increased by more than 5 times; the total loss rate is reduced by 6 percentage points, and the yield per mu is increased by about 12 kg; mold and breakage are significantly reduced, the rate of high-quality products is improved, and the purchase price is increased by 0.8 yuan / kg; the whole process does not require turning and drying or bundling, saving about 180 yuan / mu of labor costs.

[0070] The above description discloses only one preferred embodiment of the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the processes of the above embodiments can be implemented, and equivalent changes made in accordance with the claims of the present invention are still within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for mechanical and efficient harvesting of tartary buckwheat, Its features are, include: Harvesting should take place when more than 75% of the grains on the main stem and first-level branches in the field have reached physiological maturity, and the weather forecast indicates that the daily maximum temperature will be 20-30℃, the daily average relative humidity will be less than 60%, and there will be no precipitation for the next 3-5 consecutive days. Use a stalk cutter to cut the plants 10-15 cm above the ground, so that the bottom of the strip is 20-30 cm above the ground, forming a natural ventilation channel; After harvesting and drying, the seeds are laid out in strips and left to dry in the field for 3 to 5 days without being turned over. The loose structure of the plants themselves promotes even drying, allowing the green seeds to complete ripening and dehydrate simultaneously within the strips. A threshing machine is used to process the dried strips. The threshing device drives a roller with elastic elements at a speed of 400-600 rpm. The grains are separated by rubbing between the plants with a large gap of 15-25 mm, so that the grain breakage rate is less than 2% and the overall loss rate is less than 5%.

2. The mechanized and efficient harvesting method for tartary buckwheat as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Physiological maturity is characterized by a seed coat color ranging from dark brown to blackish brown.

3. The mechanized and efficient harvesting method for tartary buckwheat as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The specific steps for using a harvester to cut the plants at a height of 10-15 cm above the ground, so that the bottom of the scion in the resulting strip is maintained at a height of 20-30 cm above the ground to create a natural ventilation channel, include: After the buckwheat reaches physiological maturity, a harvester is used to work along the direction of travel in the field. Adjust the cutter of the harvester to a position 10-15 cm above the ground, and cut the buckwheat plant at this height; The strip-laying device of the harvester lays the cut buckwheat plants horizontally and orderly on the cleared ground to form continuous strips. Taking advantage of the fact that buckwheat plants reach a height of 60–100 cm at maturity, strips cut to a height of 10–15 cm are laid out so that, under natural overlapping conditions, the bottom of the ear closest to the ground maintains a vertical gap of 20–30 cm between it and the ground surface.

4. The mechanized and efficient harvesting method for tartary buckwheat as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The cutting height of 10-15 cm is achieved by adjusting the depth-limiting ground wheel configured on the scorching machine, with a control accuracy of ±1 cm.

5. The mechanized and efficient harvesting method for tartary buckwheat as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The threshing drum of the threshing machine is provided with flexible rubber ridges or nylon brush bundles distributed along the axial direction. During the kneading process, it generates controllable deformation, which further buffers the impact force on the grains.

6. The mechanized and efficient harvesting method for tartary buckwheat as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The strips are laid with a width of 70-90 cm, and adjacent plants are staggered to maintain the overall loose structure of the strips and prevent the middle from collapsing and touching the ground.

7. The mechanized and efficient harvesting method for tartary buckwheat as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The natural ventilation channel increases the air velocity at the bottom of the strip by 2 to 3 times and reduces the relative humidity by 10 to 15 percentage points, thereby controlling the grain mold rate to below 5% within 48 hours after rain.

8. The mechanized and efficient harvesting method for tartary buckwheat as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The specific steps for laying the harvested and dried seeds in strips in the field for 3-5 days without turning them over, utilizing the plant's own loose structure to promote uniform drying, and allowing the green seeds to complete ripening and dehydrate simultaneously within the strips, include: After the mechanized harvesting and drying operations are completed and the strips are laid out, the strips are left to stand still in their original positions in the field, without any turning, shaking or re-laying operations. By utilizing the internal air microchannels formed by the aforementioned fluffy structure, the uniform distribution and continuous exchange of temperature and humidity inside the strip pavement can be achieved under the influence of natural light and wind. During the 3-5 day resting period, the immature green seeds in the strips continue to undergo physiological ripening under suitable temperature and humidity conditions, while simultaneously dehydrating with the mature seeds. This ultimately reduces the moisture content of the entire batch of seeds to below 14%, and the green seed conversion rate reaches over 90%.

9. The mechanized and efficient harvesting method for tartary buckwheat as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The loose structure allows the daytime maximum temperature inside the strip to be 2-5°C higher than the outside temperature, while slowing down the nighttime cooling rate, creating a microclimate environment conducive to starch conversion and gradient diffusion of moisture.

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