Design and Experimental Study of a Whole-Stalk Harvesting Header Based on Reed (Phragmites australis) Characteristic Parameters

The whole-stalk harvesting and baling of reeds (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud) require a header with high efficiency and low loss rate. Based on an analysis of reed characteristic parameters, this paper proposes a T-shaped layout header design for whole-stalk reed harvesting. The design employs bilateral transverse conveying chains and a longitudinal clamping conveying chain, coordinated with a baler at its end, to achieve integrated harvesting and baling of whole reed stalks, thereby improving efficiency. By analyzing the relationship between key header parameters, such as the height of the lifting lugs on the transverse conveying device, the speeds of the transverse and longitudinal conveying chains, and the forward speed of the header, and the posture of the reeds, the causes of header loss during reed harvesting with the T-shaped header are identified. On this basis, a set of design criteria for the key parameters of the T-shaped whole-stalk reed header is established. A T-shaped reed whole-stalk harvesting header was designed according to these criteria and tested in harvesting experiments with varying preset values for forward speed and lower transverse conveying chain speed. Experimental data show that under optimally matched parameters, the header achieves a low average loss rate (Lh ≤ 2.0%) and a high average harvesting efficiency at the rated forward speed (up to 1.0 hm2/h, including baling), verifying the correctness of the theoretical analysis and the design criteria. The research results provide theoretical and experimental support for the design of conveying systems in headers for tall-stalk crops such as reeds.