Yield effects on bale density and time required for commercial harvesting and baling of switchgrass
- Auburn Univ., AL (United States)
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Economic projections for harvesting and baling switchgrass as an energy crop are derived from budgets for hay making. However, hay yields are less than half those expected for biomass yields, suggesting that this extrapolation may not be valid. The objective of this study was to obtain mowing, raking and baling data for switchgrass fields with either a low (hay) or high (biomass) yield. At the Wiregrass Station equipment typically available to small-scale farmers was used to mow, rake and bale switchgrass in 0.2 ha plots with low and high yields, representing the second cut of a 2-cut per season system, and the only cut of a 1-cut system, respectively. At the E.V. Smith Cente, more powerful equipment typically available in larger farming operations was used under similar field conditions. Bales at the Wiregrass Station were 1.52 m in diameter and 1.22 m long. Corresponding measurements for bales at the EN. Smith Center were 1.83 m and 1.52 m. For each plot, time taken for mowing, raking and baling was recorded, and all bales were weighed and measured to determine bale density. Subsamples were dried in an oven at 60{degrees}C for 48 hr to determine dry matter content. Yield had relatively little effect on bale density, mowing time and raking time. However, bale density was strongly affected by the baler size: density of the small bales averaged 110 kg/m{sup 3}, while that of the large bales averaged 134 kg/m{sup 3}. In addition, high yields caused considerable difficulty with baling operations, including occasional jamming of the smaller baler at the Wiregrass Station, which amounted to unscheduled down time. This study indicated that data for hay making are not appropriate for harvesting and baling switchgrass when managed as an energy crop. In addition, further research on harvesting and baling switchgrass for biomass with commercial equipment is urgently needed to obtain reliable estimates of costs.
- OSTI ID:
- 478612
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960958-; TRN: 97:002640-0003
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Partnerships to develop and apply biomass technologies, Nashville, TN (United States), 15-19 Sep 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Bioenergy `96: Partnerships to develop and apply biomass technologies. Volume I and II; PB: 1171 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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