The optimal time for seed harvesting is the equilibrium point between unripe seeds and the losses caused by seed care, which means estimating the optimal time to achieve the maximum yield of ripe and quality seeds. In addition, harvesting methods and environmental conditions of harvest time can have significant effects on seed quality and final yield.

Signs of crop seed germination

The general symptoms of seed germination include: the loss of green color of the parent plant, and changes in seed coat color with the onset of processing processes. There are many cultivars in which seed cultivation is very slow, such as beans, in which the color of the plants changes with the disappearance of the leaves before the seed is turned black. This is in contrast to some grasses, where the color of the stems remains green during ripening. The most important goals to consider when planting or harvesting seeds are:

The purity of the harvested seed mass
Maximum seed care, which can be checked by nail testing (seed pressure is determined by pressing the seed sample by the nail, the seed should be at least pasty but should not be too hard to scratch with the nail).
Moisture content is suitable for crop species (in the field it is determined by grinding a seed sample and measuring its moisture content).
Maximum seed yield

Seed harvesting systems

There are two basic systems for harvesting seeds.

Cut off the crop and give it more time to dry in the same place or under a canopy. The crop may be spread out on the ground, or it may remain in rows for further drying, or it may be removed from the field for further drying. The latter system is useful for those groups of crops that have a long flowering period and seed germination. Other benefits of this system include:

The seed crop can continue to grow on the mother plant

Harvesting can begin earlier, however more time is needed to complete the process.

In this system, the seeds are separated from the straw by the combine and then transferred to another place for further processing. This method of harvesting is called combine harvesting.

Mechanized cutting

When the cutting operation is performed mechanically, the remains of the mother plant are left in the same place by the cutting comb or row cutter. In addition to a cutting comb, the machines that are able to perform this operation also have a conveyor belt, and the harvested product is moved by the machine and placed in a narrow row. These rows are either dried in strips or strips or left in place to be collected based on the density of the material and the speed of drying on the farm.