As peas approach harvest, their maturity is evaluated by the use of a tenderometer, which measures the resistance a sample of shelled peas gives against a known force. Tougher, more starchy peas have a higher tenderometer reading. Tenderometer readings also are taken for grading and payment purposes at harvest. Contract prices, therefore, decrease with higher tenderometers. With yield increase, a fair price is arrived at for both the grower and processor.
Maturity also affects the head loss.
Head loss was significantly higher for peas with a tenderometer of more than 140. This is attributed to the significant increase in the number of pods lost at the head when tenderness exceeded 140. This suggests that more mature pods do not tend to rupture more easily at the head when the stripping fingers impact the pods. Short-term improvements in pea production can be made with proper operation of pod stripper combines. Clearly, field evaluations of a pod-stripper combine show harvest of peas should begin at the combine head where most of the loss occurs.