Progress in Mechanized Harvesting Technologies and Equipment for Minor Cereals: A Review

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. Some of the references are too outdated. For example, the article "Design and test of cutting blade of cannabis harvester based on longicorn bionic principle" is from 2017. It is recommended to use more recent literature.
2. In Section "3.5. Intelligent Technologie" of the manuscript, when discussing the performance of new header designs or intelligent cleaning devices, such as loss rates and efficiency, there is a lack of supporting actual application cases and specific parameters. It is suggested to supplement relevant experimental data or practical application cases through comparative experiments, field trials, or user feedback. Additionally, key technical details and parameters should be added to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the discussed technologies and equipment.
3. In Section "5. Issues and development suggestions", the logical connection between the proposed improvement suggestions and the existing problems is not fully explained. It is recommended that when presenting problems and solutions, the causal relationships, logical reasoning processes, and scientific basis and technical feasibility should be elaborated. Furthermore, it is suggested to propose some specific innovative technical ideas or improvement plans based on existing research to enhance the originality of the article.
4. The manuscript uses some professional terms and concepts, such as "Intelligent Technologies", "Flexible Header", "Multi-purpose Equipment", and "Intelligentization of Harvesting Equipment", but they are not clearly defined and explained. It is recommended to provide clear definitions and explanations for key concepts and terms at the beginning of the paper or in relevant sections to avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding.
5. The punctuation is used improperly in the sentence "The functions of the reel and the crop support device are roughly the same, both guiding the stalks towards the cutting blade and supporting the stalks during cutting; after the stalks are cut, they push the stalks to the conveyor to avoid stalk accumulation at the cutting blade." It is suggested to revise it to "The functions of the reel and the crop support device are roughly the same. Both guide the stalks towards the cutting blade and support the stalks during cutting. After the stalks are cut, they push the stalks to the conveyor to avoid stalk accumulation at the cutting blade."
6. In the sentence "The header section of the combine harvester for minor cereals is the part where significant losses occur during the entire harvesting process.", it is recommended to change "part" to "component" to more accurately and clearly convey the directionality and functional attributes of the header section in the combine harvester.
7. The sentence "The development of combine harvesters for minor cereals started earlier internationally, and the intelligentization technology of headers is more advanced." has inconsistent tenses between the two clauses. It is suggested to change "is" to "was" in the second clause to maintain tense consistency.
8. In Section "2.1. Distribution and scale of minor cereal cultivation", some statistical data and case studies are cited to illustrate the current status of the distribution of minor cereal cultivation and the level of mechanization, but some data lack detailed sources and analysis processes. For example, when mentioning the planting area and yield of minor cereals, the data acquisition methods and statistical calibers are not clearly specified. It is necessary to further improve the data sources and analysis methods and provide more detailed and accurate data support.

Author Response

Comments 1. Some of the references are too outdated. For example, the article "Design and test of cutting blade of cannabis harvester based on longicorn bionic principle" is from 2017. It is recommended to use more recent literature.

Response 1. Thank you for pointing this out. Since there are relatively few studies on the mechanized harvesting of minor cereals, and this paper is a review article that relies heavily on a large number of references, it is inevitable that some older references are used. However, these references represent the latest research findings in the relevant fields and can provide valuable references for further research.

Comments 2. In Section "3.5. Intelligent Technologie" of the manuscript, when discussing the performance of new header designs or intelligent cleaning devices, such as loss rates and efficiency, there is a lack of supporting actual application cases and specific parameters. It is suggested to supplement relevant experimental data or practical application cases through comparative experiments, field trials, or user feedback. Additionally, key technical details and parameters should be added to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the discussed technologies and equipment.

Response 2. Thank you for bringing this up. We have accepted this comment and have added relevant experiments and application cases about header and intelligent cleaning devices in Section 3.5 of the paper. The changes have been highlighted and annotated in the attached document.

Comments 3. In Section "5. Issues and development suggestions", the logical connection between the proposed improvement suggestions and the existing problems is not fully explained. It is recommended that when presenting problems and solutions, the causal relationships, logical reasoning processes, and scientific basis and technical feasibility should be elaborated. Furthermore, it is suggested to propose some specific innovative technical ideas or improvement plans based on existing research to enhance the originality of the article.

Response 3. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted the suggestion and have re-optimized the content of the “Issues and Development Suggestions” section to establish logical connections. We have also added specific innovative technological solutions. The section now meets the requirements.

Comments 4.The manuscript uses some professional terms and concepts, such as "Intelligent Technologies", "Flexible Header", "Multi-purpose Equipment", and "Intelligentization of Harvesting Equipment", but they are not clearly defined and explained. It is recommended to provide clear definitions and explanations for key concepts and terms at the beginning of the paper or in relevant sections to avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding.

Response 4. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted this comment and have added explanations for the relevant professional terms when they appear in the article to facilitate readers' understanding. The revised parts in the text have been highlighted and annotated, and the modified content is presented in the attachment.

Comments 5. The punctuation is used improperly in the sentence "The functions of the reel and the crop support device are roughly the same, both guiding the stalks towards the cutting blade and supporting the stalks during cutting; after the stalks are cut, they push the stalks to the conveyor to avoid stalk accumulation at the cutting blade." It is suggested to revise it to "The functions of the reel and the crop support device are roughly the same. Both guide the stalks towards the cutting blade and support the stalks during cutting. After the stalks are cut, they push the stalks to the conveyor to avoid stalk accumulation at the cutting blade."

Response 5. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have accepted the comment and corrected the improperly used punctuation marks in the text. We have also checked the use of symbols throughout the entire article, and it now complies with the requirements for academic writing. The modified parts in the text have been highlighted and annotated.

Comments 6.In the sentence "The header section of the combine harvester for minor cereals is the part where significant losses occur during the entire harvesting process.", it is recommended to change "part" to "component" to more accurately and clearly convey the directionality and functional attributes of the header section in the combine harvester.

Response 6. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted the comment and changed "part" to "component" which has been highlighted in the text and annotated.

Comments 7.The sentence "The development of combine harvesters for minor cereals started earlier internationally, and the intelligentization technology of headers is more advanced." has inconsistent tenses between the two clauses. It is suggested to change "is" to "was" in the second clause to maintain tense consistency.

Response 7. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted the comment, corrected the tense in the sentence, and checked the tenses throughout the entire text. It now fully complies with the requirements.

 

Comments 8.In Section "2.1. Distribution and scale of minor cereal cultivation", some statistical data and case studies are cited to illustrate the current status of the distribution of minor cereal cultivation and the level of mechanization, but some data lack detailed sources and analysis processes. For example, when mentioning the planting area and yield of minor cereals, the data acquisition methods and statistical calibers are not clearly specified. It is necessary to further improve the data sources and analysis methods and provide more detailed and accurate data support.

Response 8. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted the comment and have added supplementary information on the data sources and statistical analysis methods in Section 2.1. The relevant modifications have been highlighted in the text and annotated.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Main gaps that should be improved before publication:

 

1. More detailed discussion of specific technological solutions tailored to regional challenges, especially in rugged terrains.
2. Inclusion of more recent data on the development and deployment of machinery, with quantitative results on efficiency and losses.
3. Clearer strategies for promoting adoption of technologies, including government incentives and private sector partnerships.
4. A deeper discussion on the socio-economic impact of mechanization on small cereal farming communities.

 

• What is the main question addressed by the research?

The main question addressed by the research is how to advance and implement efficient mechanization technologies for harvesting minor cereals in China, aiming to reduce losses, improve harvesting efficiency, and promote the widespread adoption of tailored equipment across different regions.

 

• Do you consider the topic original or relevant to the field? Does it

address a specific gap in the field? Please also explain why this is/ is not

the case.

   Yes, the topic is relevant to the field of agricultural mechanization, particularly in the context of improving harvesting efficiency for minor cereals in China. The research addresses a specific gap concerning the low level of mechanized harvesting for minor cereals, which are crucial for food security and local economies but remain predominantly manually harvested due to region-specific challenges and equipment limitations. While mechanization of major crops is well-developed, the unique difficulties associated with minor cereals—such as diverse crop structures, regional disparities, and equipment adaptability—necessitate targeted technological innovations. This study's systematic review and analysis fill an important niche by synthesizing current technological progress and proposing tailored solutions, making the research both original and highly pertinent to advancing the field.

 

• What does it add to the subject area compared with other published

material?

 This research advances the subject area by providing a comprehensive and systematic review of the current status, technological challenges, and developmental prospects of mechanized harvesting for minor cereals in China. Unlike previous studies that may focus on either major crops or specific technologies, this paper integrates insights across multiple key technological domains such as header design, threshing, cleaning, mobility,  and evaluates existing equipment in a global context.

 

• What specific improvements should the authors consider regarding the

methodology? What further controls should be considered?

• Incorporating meta-analytical methods or quantitative assessments of technological performance metrics (e.g., losses, efficiency rates) would provide more robust evidence for claims made about the advancements and gaps in mechanization.
• Comparing Chinese technological developments with those in other major cereal-producing countries could offer valuable control points, highlighting relative strengths and areas for improvement.
• Incorporating empirical data from field trials or case studies of mechanized harvesting in different regions would help validate technological claims and contextual applicability.

 

• Are the conclusions consistent with the evidence and arguments presented

and do they address the main question posed? Please also explain why this

is/is not the case.

The conclusions are consistent.

• Are the references appropriate?

The references are adequate.

Author Response

Comments 1. More detailed discussion of specific technological solutions tailored to regional challenges, especially in rugged terrains.

Comments 2. Inclusion of more recent data on the development and deployment of machinery, with quantitative results on efficiency and losses.

Comments 3. Clearer strategies for promoting adoption of technologies, including government incentives and private sector partnerships.

Comments 4. A deeper discussion on the socio-economic impact of mechanization on small cereal farming communities.

Response: In response to comments 1, 3, and 4, technical specific solutions, promotion strategies, and the socio-economic impacts have been added to the text in Section 5. Issues and development suggestions. In response to the second comment, we have accepted this suggestion and added relevant experiments and application cases about header and intelligent cleaning devices in Section 3.5 of the paper. The relevant changes have been highlighted in the text and comments have been added.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

ABSTRACT

• The abstract mentions "key technologies" and "advanced equipment" for the mechanized harvesting of minor cereals but does not indicate the specific nature or categories of these technologies (e.g., cutting mechanisms, threshing systems, or machinery adaptations for varying terrains).
• Although the abstract notes limited research on mechanized harvesting of minor cereals, it does not clearly define the specific technical gap or the paper’s unique contribution.

BODY OF THE REVIEW

• Include some specific technical details such as mechanical parameters, cutting or threshing mechanisms, or performance metrics (e.g., harvesting efficiency, grain loss percentages). To further strengthen the technical rigour of the comparison.

CONCLUSION

• For stronger impact, the conclusions should highlight key findings (e.g., specific limitations of current threshing designs or quantifiable efficiency gaps).

REFERENCES

• The references are okay, both in citation and listing

 

Author Response

Comments 1. The abstract mentions "key technologies" and "advanced equipment" for the mechanized harvesting of minor cereals but does not indicate the specific nature or categories of these technologies (e.g., cutting mechanisms, threshing systems, or machinery adaptations for varying terrains).

Response 1. Thank you for pointing this out. We accept this comment and have added a description of the specific nature and categories of the relevant technologies in the abstract section.

Comments 2. Although the abstract notes limited research on mechanized harvesting of minor cereals, it does not clearly define the specific technical gap or the paper’s unique contribution.

Response 2.We have also included a description of the specific technological gaps and the unique contributions of this paper. The relevant changes have been highlighted in the text and comments have been added.

Comments 3. Include some specific technical details such as mechanical parameters, cutting or threshing mechanisms, or performance metrics (e.g., harvesting efficiency, grain loss percentages). To further strengthen the technical rigour of the comparison.

Response 3. Thank you for bringing this up. We have accepted this comment and have added relevant experiments and application cases about header and intelligent cleaning devices in Section 3.5 of the paper. The changes have been highlighted and annotated in the attached document.

Comments 4. For stronger impact, the conclusions should highlight key findings (e.g., specific limitations of current threshing designs or quantifiable efficiency gaps).

Response 4. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted this suggestion and have added a detailed description of the specific limitations of the current equipment in the conclusion. The relevant modifications have been highlighted and annotated in the text.

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article offers a comprehensive overview of the key technologies required to achieve full mechanization in harvesting processes and summarizes the current research progress on advanced equipment for the mechanized harvesting of minor cereals. It also proposes suggestions to promote the development of mechanized harvesting for minor cereals, aiming to provide a reference for further development and research in this field in China. Overall, this study holds significant guiding value and is of high quality. The following modifications are suggested to enhance the manuscript:

1. In the section “3.5. Intelligent Technologie” of the paper, when discussing the performance of new type of header design or intelligent cleaning device, such as loss rate and efficiency, there is a lack of support from practical application cases and specific parameters. It is suggested to supplement relevant experimental data or practical application cases through comparative experiments, field tests or user feedback, and at the same time, add key technical details and parameters to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the discussed technologies and equipment.
2. The abstract mentions that the research on the mechanized harvesting of minor cereals is limited, but it does not clearly define the specific technical gaps and the unique contributions of this paper. It is suggested to clarify in which aspects there are technical research gaps and the contributions of this paper in those areas.
3. In the section “5. Issues and development suggestions” of the paper, when proposing improvement suggestions, the logical connection between them and the existing problems is not fully explained. It is suggested that when presenting problems and solutions, the causal relationship, logical reasoning process, and their scientific basis and technical feasibility should be explained in detail. In addition, it is suggested to try to propose some specific innovative technical ideas or improvement plans based on the existing research to enhance the innovation of the paper.
4. At the beginning of the paper, clearly define and explain some professional terms and concepts used in the paper to avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding.
5. In the second section of the paper, some statistical data and cases are cited to illustrate the current situation of the planting distribution and mechanization level of minor cereals, but some data lack detailed sources and analysis processes. The sources and analysis methods of the data should be further improved to provide more detailed and accurate data support.
6. In the conclusion, the research findings should highlighted, such as the comparison of visualization efficiency for optimization effects.

 

Author Response

Comments 1. In the section “3.5. Intelligent Technologie” of the paper, when discussing the performance of new type of header design or intelligent cleaning device, such as loss rate and efficiency, there is a lack of support from practical application cases and specific parameters. It is suggested to supplement relevant experimental data or practical application cases through comparative experiments, field tests or user feedback, and at the same time, add key technical details and parameters to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the discussed technologies and equipment.

Response 1. Thank you for bringing this up. We have accepted this comment and have added relevant experiments and application cases about header and intelligent cleaning devices in Section 3.5 of the paper. The changes have been highlighted and annotated in the attached document.

Comments 2. The abstract mentions that the research on the mechanized harvesting of minor cereals is limited, but it does not clearly define the specific technical gaps and the unique contributions of this paper. It is suggested to clarify in which aspects there are technical research gaps and the contributions of this paper in those areas.

Response 2.Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have accepted this comment and added a description of the specific technological gaps and the unique contributions of this paper. The relevant changes have been highlighted in the text and annotated accordingly.

Comments 3. In the section “5. Issues and development suggestions” of the paper, when proposing improvement suggestions, the logical connection between them and the existing problems is not fully explained. It is suggested that when presenting problems and solutions, the causal relationship, logical reasoning process, and their scientific basis and technical feasibility should be explained in detail. In addition, it is suggested to try to propose some specific innovative technical ideas or improvement plans based on the existing research to enhance the innovation of the paper.

Response 3. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted the suggestion and have re-optimized the content of the “Issues and Development Suggestions” section to establish logical connections. We have also added specific innovative technological solutions. The section now meets the requirements.

Comments 4. At the beginning of the paper, clearly define and explain some professional terms and concepts used in the paper to avoid ambiguity and misunderstanding.

Response 4. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted this comment and have added explanations for the relevant professional terms when they appear in the article to facilitate readers' understanding. The revised parts in the text have been highlighted and annotated, and the modified content is presented in the attachment.

Comments 5. In the second section of the paper, some statistical data and cases are cited to illustrate the current situation of the planting distribution and mechanization level of minor cereals, but some data lack detailed sources and analysis processes. The sources and analysis methods of the data should be further improved to provide more detailed and accurate data support.

Response 5. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted the comment and have added supplementary information on the data sources and statistical analysis methods in Section 2.1. The relevant modifications have been highlighted in the text and annotated.

Comments 6. In the conclusion, the research findings should highlighted, such as the comparison of visualization efficiency for optimization effects.

Response 6. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted this suggestion and have added a detailed description of the specific limitations of the current equipment in the conclusion. The relevant modifications have been highlighted and annotated in the text.

Reviewer 5 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article provides a detailed survey of the essential technologies needed to attain complete mechanization in harvesting operations and reviews the current advancements in machinery for the mechanized harvesting of minor cereals. It further puts forward recommendations to boost the mechanized harvesting of minor cereals, with the goal of offering a reference for additional development and research in this area in China. In summary, this study has substantial guiding significance and is of high quality. The following changes are suggested to improve the manuscript:

1. More detailed discussion of specific technological solutions tailored to regional challenges, especially in rugged terrains. Inclusion of more recent data on the development and deployment of machinery, with quantitative results on efficiency and losses.
2. Some of the references are too outdated. For example, the article "Design and test of cutting blade of cannabis harvester based on longicorn bionic principle" is from 2017. It is recommended to use more recent literature.
3. It is suggested that clear definitions and explanations for key concepts and terms be provided at the outset of the paper or in pertinent sections to prevent any ambiguity and misunderstanding.
4. In Figure 3, the symbols for the center and the eccentric center should be distinguished, and this should be explained in the caption below the figure.
5. In Table 1, some of the text in the illustrations is too small. It is recommended to increase the font size of the text in the figures appropriately.
6. It is suggested that the conclusion section of the article should include a prospective outlook on specific future research directions. This will not only provide guidance for subsequent studies but also demonstrate the forward-looking nature and instructive significance of the paper.

Author Response

Comments 1. More detailed discussion of specific technological solutions tailored to regional challenges, especially in rugged terrains. Inclusion of more recent data on the development and deployment of machinery, with quantitative results on efficiency and losses.

Response 1. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted this suggestion. We have added relevant content on technical solutions, promotion strategies, and socio-economic impacts to Section 5 “Issues and Development Suggestions” of the text. Additionally, we have included relevant experiments and application cases about headers and intelligent cleaning devices in Section 3.5 of the paper. The relevant changes have been highlighted in the text and accompanied by corresponding comments.

Comments 2. Some of the references are too outdated. For example, the article "Design and test of cutting blade of cannabis harvester based on longicorn bionic principle" is from 2017. It is recommended to use more recent literature.

Response 2. Thank you for pointing this out. Since there are relatively few studies on the mechanized harvesting of minor cereals, and this paper is a review article that relies heavily on a large number of references, it is inevitable that some older references are used. However, these references represent the latest research findings in the relevant fields and can provide valuable references for further research.

Comments 3. It is suggested that clear definitions and explanations for key concepts and terms be provided at the outset of the paper or in pertinent sections to prevent any ambiguity and misunderstanding.

Response 3. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted this comment and have added explanations for the relevant professional terms when they appear in the article to facilitate readers' understanding. The revised parts in the text have been highlighted and annotated, and the modified content is presented in the attachment.

Comments 4. In Figure 3, the symbols for the center and the eccentric center should be distinguished, and this should be explained in the caption below the figure.

Response 4. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted this comment and have revised the symbols in the figure for better distinction, with annotations added below. The revised parts have been highlighted.

Comments 5. In Table 1, some of the text in the illustrations is too small. It is recommended to increase the font size of the text in the figures appropriately.

Response 5. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted this comment and have enlarged the text in the illustration of Table 1.

Comments 6. It is suggested that the conclusion section of the article should include a prospective outlook on specific future research directions. This will not only provide guidance for subsequent studies but also demonstrate the forward-looking nature and instructive significance of the paper.

Response 6. Thank you for pointing this out. We have accepted this comment and have added a prospective outlook on future research directions in the conclusion section. The relevant changes have been highlighted in the text and annotated.