Abstract: The southwestern region of China is characterized by complex hilly and mountainous terrain, fragmented arable land, steep slopes, and small plots, all of which, combined with variable climatic conditions, severely hinder the development of mechanized corn harvesting. Currently, the region's mechanized harvesting rate for corn remains significantly below the national average, relying primarily on small‑scale harvesting machinery that suffers from poor adaptability, low operational efficiency, and high crop loss rates. Although various adaptive harvesting machines have been developed both domestically and internationally, most have faced persistent challenges such as low levels of intelligence, unstable performance, and difficulties in large‑scale adoption. To address these limitations, future development was recommended to focus on the creation of small‑scale, intelligent mechanical equipment, supported by favorable policies and active market promotion to collectively enhance the overall level of mechanized corn harvesting in the region. Moreover, the integration of intelligent and unmanned technologies presents promising opportunities to boost harvesting efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. These insights provide both a theoretical foundation and practical technical recommendations for guiding the future direction of mechanized corn harvesting in China's southwestern hilly regions.

Key words: Southwest China, hilly and mountainous regions, corn harvest, mechanization

摘要： 西南地区丘陵山地地形复杂，耕地零散、坡陡地小，且气候多变，严重制约玉米机械化收获发展。当前玉米机械化收获率远低于全国平均水平，主要采用小型收获机械，存在适应性差、效率低和损失率高等问题。国内外虽研发部分适应性装备，但普遍存在智能化水平低、作业不稳定、推广难等瓶颈。为应对这些挑战，未来的发展应着重于小型化、智能化的机械设备，并结合政策支持与市场推广，共同提升机械化收获的水平。此外，智能化和无人化技术的应用前景广阔，将为提升收获效率和减少环境影响提供新的解决方案。为推进西南地区玉米机械化收获的发展方向提供理论依据与技术建议。

关键词: 西南地区, 丘陵山地, 玉米收获, 机械化