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An ergonomic evaluation cleaner-cum-grader with original cycle mechanism and ICAR-CIAE developed dynapod was conducted. The study was conducted with 15 male subjects aged between 20-40 years, mean stature of 1640 ±40 mm and mean weight of 54 ±5 kg. The maximum aerobic capacities of the subjects were determined using sub-maximal exercise protocol. The mean working heart rate of the subjects in operation of machine with original cycle mechanism was 157 beats min-1 as against 125 beats min-1 with dynapod. The work pulse (ΔHR) of 57 beats min-1 and 31 beats min-1 was observed for pedaling with cycle mechanism and dynapod, respectively. The output capacity of machine increased by 41 kg h-1 with use of dynapod compared to pedaling with cycle mechanism. Using dynapod in operation of cleaner-cum-grader resulted in drudgery reduction by 51.6 % as compared to the original cycle mechanism.

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The profitability of ex-situ straw management largely depends on the quantity and quality of straw recovered from the field. The straw reaper-combine is one of the widely used ex-situ straw management technologies being used to retrieve the leftover residue in the field after grain combine operation. Besides considering the positive implication of this technology in recent times, the quality of operation, which accounts for maximizing the performance parameters of straw reaper-combine in a wheat crop. The relationship among these parameters was established using multiple linear regression techniques through the regression equation. The ANOVA test of this experiment also established the significant (P<0.01) effect of forwarding speed and cutting height on all performance parameters. It was observed from the experiment that when the forward speed was increased while keeping the cutting height at a constant level the recovery percentage and specific energy consumption were decreased whereas, straw split percentage and actual field capacity were increased. Likewise, when cutting height was increased keeping the forward speed at a constant level the recovery and split percentage were reduced but, the actual field capacity and specific energy consumption were increased. In order to achieve maximum performance at optimum energy consumption, the straw reaper should be operated at a speed between 3-4 km/h with cutting height between 30-60 mm.

A study was conducted to measure the operational frequencies of various controls on self-propelled combine harvesters and to categorize them into frequently and infrequently operated controls. The operational frequency of controls on 10 combine harvesters of different makes and models were measured during harvesting of wheat crop. The frequency of use of frequently operated controls viz. header assembly control lever, ground speed control lever, gear shift lever, brake pedal, and clutch pedal ranged 232-484, 43-170, 41- 135, 42-140, and 66-162 action.h-1, respectively. The percent time distributions of operation of controls were 44.84, 13.40, 12.21, 13.10, and 16.42%, respectively. The controls on the combine harvesters used repetitively that require high level of human effort. Therefore, to accommodate 90% of user population, the most frequently operated controls should preferably be placed in the optimum reach zone, and infrequently used controls can be conveniently placed within maximum reach zone of operators’ reach envelope.