The process is called threshing. It is carried out using a machine called a ‘combine,’ which functions as both a harvester and a thresher.
NCERT Class 8 Science
Chapter 1 Crop Production and Management
What is the process of separating grain seeds from the chaff called, and how is it done?
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The process of separating grain seeds from the chaff is called threshing. Threshing is typically performed with the help of a machine called a “combine,” which serves as both a harvester and a thresher. The combine separates the grain seeds from the chaff mechanically.
For farmers with small land holdings, an alternative method is winnowing. In winnowing, the harvested mixture of grain and chaff is tossed into the air. The lighter chaff is blown away by the wind, while the heavier grain falls back, facilitating the separation of the two components through the natural process of wind movement.
The process of separating grain seeds from the chaff is called threshing. Threshing is traditionally done by beating the harvested crop or using mechanical methods to remove the edible seeds (grain) from the inedible parts (chaff). In manual threshing, farmers may use tools like flails to beat the crop, separating the grains from the husks. Mechanized methods involve using machines such as combine harvesters, which cut and separate the grain from the chaff during harvest. After threshing, the separated grains are then winnowed to remove remaining chaff and other impurities.