Optimization of Grain Flows in the “Field-Elevator” Chain During the Harvesting of Grain Seeds in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Grain transportation from a combine harvester to a post-harvest grain processing center (hereinafter referred to as “elevator”) in Kazakhstan has its own specific features: significant grain transportation distances of more than 5 kilometers, country roads without a special paving, uneven and rough terrains, large field sizes, uncertain grain transportation routes from the field to the elevator. This reduces the speed of grain transportation, increases the time spent on transportation, requires a lot of vehicles, and makes difficulties in ensuring the coherent interaction of transport vehicles and combine harvesters. It is especially important to take this into account when transporting seeds on seed farms that use the pre-sowing seed irradiation technology to increase the productivity of seeds. ( Research purpose ) To classify the regions of Kazakhstan by the scale of grain production, determine the parameters of typical seed farms and to calculate their optimal parameters of grain transporting with simultaneous grain irradiation during transportation, minimizing mutual downtime of combine harvesters and transport vehicles during grain crop harvesting in the Republic of Kazakhstan. ( Materials and methods ) The study was carried out using the most typical for Kazakhstan SK-5M Niva combine harvesters and a GАZ-53 vehicles. The vehicle body was equipped with lowfrequency electromagnetic radiators and a special leveling device for grain input from a combine harvester through the grain auger. The authors developed a methodology for choosing the parameters of zonal typical farms based on the following parameters of the transport grain flow: the trip duration along a “field – elevator – field” route, the number of round trips per day, loading capacity of a vehicle; duration, volume, range and speed of transportation, and the coefficient of capacity utilization. It has been revealed that the round trip duration is the most variable parameter. ( Results and discussion ) The authors have proposed an algorithm for calculating the parameters of typical (model) seed farms in Kazakhstan based on statistics obtained from the Statistical Office of the Republic. Three categories of grain-producing regions were distinguished, for each of which the number of seed-growing farms was determined: 171 – for category I, 128 – for category II, 282 – for category III, with a total of 581 farms. The average area of each farm amounts to 2760; 656, and 276 hectares, respectively; round trip periods last for 68.4; 49.5, and 35.5 minutes. ( Conclusions ) It has been determined that the total demand for grain seeds in Kazakhstan is about 2 million tons. The authors have calculated the required number of seed farms, which equals 581. The total demand for vehicles equipped with low-frequency electromagnetic irradiators has been estimated as equaling 5700 units.