The invention discloses a device and a method for realizing model reference adaptive control on operation speed of a combine harvester and mainly relates to the field of agricultural machinery. The device is characterized by consisting of a controller, a touch screen, a sensor system, a manual / automatic selector switch and an execution system. The sensor system is used for acquiring signals of a threshing cylinder, a header auger, and a conveying trough, an input amount signal and a loss amount signal and the like of the combine harvester; the manual / automatic selector switch is used for switching between a manual state and an automatic state; the execution system consists of an amplifier, a speed control valve and an electronic control handle; and during work, the controller receives the signals acquired by the sensor system, and the operation speed of the combine harvester is adaptively controlled by a model reference adaptive control algorithm. In the control process, the running state of the combine harvest is displayed by the touch screen, and if the combine harvest is failed, an audible and visual alarm system on the touch screen can perform audible and visual alarm.