Journal of Biosystems Engineering

Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery (한국농업기계학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Required Mowing Power and Bale Density of Miscanthus × Giganteus for Field Biomass Harvesting using Different Methods

  • Jun, Hyeon-Jong (National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development of Administration) ;
  • Choi, Il-Su (National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development of Administration) ;
  • Kang, Tae-Gyoung (National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development of Administration) ;
  • Choi, Yong (National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development of Administration) ;
  • Choi, Duck-Kyu (National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development of Administration) ;
  • Lee, Choung-Keun (National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development of Administration)
  • Received : 2014.09.13
  • Accepted : 2014.11.25
  • Published : 2014.12.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigated the harvesting properties of the giant miscanthus (Miscanthus ${\times}$ giganteus) to measure the required mowing power for different stem conditioning methods in order to shorten the drying time after mowing and the bale density so that the crop can be used as biomass in the winter season. Methods: The required mowing power and bale density were measured using a power measurement device, three different mower-conditioners, and a mid-sized round baler under different working speeds and conditioning methods. Results: For the various mower-conditioners, the average stem length from mowing was 0.86-0.91 m, and the available working speed was 1.6 m/s. The steel roller-type mower-conditioner showed better stem conditioning but could not mow over a working speed of 1.6 m/s. The required average power of the mower-conditioners varied from 23.8 kW for the steel roller-type rotary disk mower-conditioner with a working width of 2.4 m to 37.2 kW for the flail-type rotary disk mower-conditioner with a working width of 3.2 m at a working speed of 1.6 m/s. The bale densities were $155.8-172.2kg/m^3$. The highest bale density was measured for stems with no conditioning and a moisture content of 11.3% (d.b.) mowed by the rotary disk mower. The bale density was affected by the mowing method because of the low moisture content of the miscanthus stems. Conclusions: In terms of the working performance and conditioning statue, the steel roller-type mower-conditioner is a better choice at a working width of 2.4 m, while the flail finger-type mower-conditioner is better at a working width of 3.2 m. The type of mower-conditioner used for giant miscanthus harvesting should be determined by considering the harvest area, workable period, and working performance of a mower-conditioner and baler during the winter.

Keywords

References

  1. Ayhan D. 2009. Political, economic and environmental impacts of biofuels. Applied Energy 86:108-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.04.036
  2. ASAE. 1999. CIGR Handbook of Agricultural Engineering, Vol.3 : Plant Production Engineering 348-380.
  3. Bullard, M. and P. Metcalfe. 2001. Estimating the energy requirements and $CO_2$ emission from production of the perennial grasses Miscanthus, switchgrass and reed canary grass. ADAS Consulting Ltd, USA, 94.
  4. Jun, H. J., I. S. Choi, T. K. Kang, Y. Choi and C. k. Lee. 2013. Study on required power and bale density by mowing method for Giant Miscanthus for biomass in field. In : CIOSTA, 35th CIOSTA and CIGR V Conference 2013 on from effective to intelligent farming and forestry, Billund, Denmark, 3-5 July 2013.
  5. Kim, J .E., H. J. Park and K. U. Kim. 1999. Effect of moisture content and density to the decay of rice straw bale during storage. Proceeding of the KSAM 1999 conference. 4(2):221-227 (in Korean).
  6. Kim, Y. J., D. H. Lee, S. O. Chung, S. J. Park and C. H. Choi. 2011a. Analsys of power requirement of agricultural tractor during baler operation. J. of Biosystems Eng. 36(4):243-251(in Korean). https://doi.org/10.5307/JBE.2011.36.4.243
  7. Kim, Y. J., S. O. Chung, S. J. Park and C. H. Choi. 2011b. Analsys of power requirement of agricultural tractor by major field operation. J. of Biosystems Eng. 36(2): 79-88 (in Korean). https://doi.org/10.5307/JBE.2011.36.2.79
  8. Kim D. S. 2013. Prospect of Miscanthus Biomass production in overseas. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium on The future of Bioenergy "Miscanthus", pp. 214-227, Seoul national Univ., Korea.
  9. Koonin S. E. 2006. Getting serious about biofuels, Science, 311-435.
  10. Lewandowski, I., J. C. Clifton-Brown, J.M.O. Scurlock and W. Huisman. 2000. Miscanthus : European experience with a novel energy crop. Biomass and Bioenergy 19(4):209-227. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(00)00032-5
  11. Lewandowski, I. and A. Heinz. 2003. Delayed harvest of Miscanthus-influences on biomass quantity and quality and environmental impacts of energy production. Eur. J. Agron 19:45-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1161-0301(02)00018-7
  12. Moon, Y.H., B.C. Koo, Y.H. Choi, S.H.Ahn, S.T. Bark, Y.L. Cha, G.H. An, J.K. Kim and S.J. Suh. 2010. Development of "Miscanthus" the promising bioenergy crop, Kor. J. Weed sic. 30(4):330-339 (in Korean). https://doi.org/10.5660/KJWS.2010.30.4.330
  13. Persson, Sverker. 1987. Mechanics of cutting plant material. ASAE publishers, St. Joseph, MI.
  14. Qingguo, X. 2003 Potential of giant grass Triarrhena lutarioriparia to grow in cold, dry and saline conditions as energy source. Proc. of International Conference on Bioenergy Utilization and Environment Protection-6th LAMNET project Workshop, Dalian, China SESSION 5 : BIOMASS RESOURCES.
  15. Srivastava, A. K. and Carroll E. Goering. 1991. Hay and forage harvesting. Engineering Principles of Agricultural Machines, Draft copy.
  16. Srivastava, A. K., Carroll E. Goering, Roger P. Rohrbach and Dennis R. Buckmaster. 2006. (rev.) Hay and forage harvesting. Engineering Principles of Agricultural Machines, St. Joseph, Michigan: ASABE. 325-402.
  17. Tiziano, G, Maurizio G. Paoletti and David Pimentel. 2009. Bio-fuels: efficiency, ethics, and limits to human appropriation of ecosystem services. Agricultural and environmental ethics, 23(5):403-434.