Mechanical Weed Seed Management System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a weed seed management system and weed seed management device mountable on a harvester. The device includes a plate to convey straw waste after discharge from the harvester; a chute to catch the straw waste conveyed by the plate, and then direct and deposit the straw waste on the ground in a first windrow; and a trough having a length and a vent, the trough to convey the chaff waste along the length after discharge from the harvester, the vent aligned with the chute to deposit the chaff waste in a second windrow on top of first windrow of the straw waste on the ground, wherein the trough has a depth greater than 150 mm. The weed management system includes the harvester and the weed seed management device.

1 . A mechanical weed seed management device mountable on a harvester, the device comprising:
 a plate to convey straw waste after discharge from the harvester;   a chute to catch the straw waste conveyed by the plate, and then direct and deposit the straw waste on the ground in a first windrow; and   a trough having a length and a vent, the trough to convey chaff waste along the length after discharge from the harvester, the vent aligned with the chute to deposit the chaff waste in a second windrow on top of the first windrow of the straw waste on the ground, wherein the trough has a depth greater than 150 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the trough has a depth of 310 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the trough has a width between 250 mm and 450 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the trough has a width between 275 mm and 290 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the trough has a shape that is generally triangular with rounded corners. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one guard abutting a section of the trough to assist in guiding the chaff waste from the harvester into the trough. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one guard is disposed at one or more of: forward of the trough; within a middle area of the trough, forward of the chute; and above an unroofed length of the trough, at respective sides of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the chute is tapered inwardly downwards to direct the straw waste into a narrower deposit on the ground. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the width of the chute is variable for a variable width deposit of straw waste on the ground. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the trough is square shaped in sectional profile. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the trough comprises a paddled chain to convey the chaff waste along the length to the vent. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein each paddle is dimensioned so as to be of a complementary size and shape to the trough. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the paddled chain is powered by a hydraulic pump. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , further comprising monitoring equipment to monitor operation of the paddled chain and/or alert a user if the operation is interrupted. 
     
     
         15 . A weed management system comprising:
 a harvester to discharge straw waste and chaff waste; and   a mechanical weed seed management device mountable on the harvester, the device comprising:
 a plate to convey the straw waste after discharge from the harvester; 
 a chute to catch the straw waste conveyed by the plate, and then direct and deposit the straw waste on the ground in a first windrow; and 
 a trough having a length and a vent, the trough to convey the chaff waste along the length after discharge from the harvester, the vent aligned with the chute to deposit the chaff waste as conveyed in a second windrow on top of the first windrow of the straw waste on the ground, wherein the trough has a depth greater than 150 mm. 
   
     
     
         16 . The weed management system according to  claim 16 , wherein the harvester comprises a compartment that discharges the straw waste and the chaff waste, and wherein the plate is disposed to substantially adjoin a floor of the compartment to convey the straw waste discharged from the harvester, and the trough is disposed under the floor of the compartment to convey the chaff waste discharged from the harvester.