Soya bean threshing by nylon cords on rotating shafts

An experimental device was built for threshing standing, uncut soya bean pl ants. It used impact energy provided by nylon cords, fixed on counter-rotat ing shafts, striking the soya beans from both sides of the plant row. The d evice threshed up to 99% of the beans depending on the ground speed. The ma terial-other-than-grain removed at slower speeds was significantly more tha n that removed at faster ground speeds. Ground speed had no effect on seed vigour. However, the vigour of seeds harvested with the experimental device was significantly higher compared to those harvested conventionally. The e stimated average energy required by the threshing device was 4 MJ/ha. (C) 2 000 Silsoe Research Institute.