Development of Single-tractor Integrated Multi-purpose Forage Harvester

Abstract

To improve the insufficient mechanized forage harvesting system, an integrated forage harvester that produces midsize round bales was developed. Methods: The harvesting performance of the developed harvester was tested in a forage plantation. The harvesting performance was evaluated by investigating the bale production performance and residue ratios of the harvester at three levels of tractor driving speeds. Results: The bales outputs per hour by driving speed shown by the harvester were 30 bales (6.8 MT) at 2.3 km/h, 36 bales (8.4 MT) at 3.2 km/h, and 44 bales (10.5 MT) at 5.1 km/h in the case of rye-straw. In the case of rice-straw, they were 43 bales (8.8 MT) at 4.3 km/h, 44 bales (9.7 MT) at 5.0 km/h, and 48 bales (10.7 MT) at 6.2 km/h. In the case of Italian ryegrass (IRG), they were 35 bales (10.7 MT) at 7.0 km/h, 37 bales (12.0 MT) at 8.3 km/h, and 38 bales (13.2 MT) at 9.5 km/h. The average ratios of residues to the available quantities were 2.61% in the case of rye-straw, 1.89% in the case of rice-straw, and 1.57% in the case of IRG. When residues smaller than 200 mm, which cannot be collected, were excluded, the residue ratios of all crops were good, as they did not exceed 1.0%. Conclusions: Since the baling and wrapping functions, which had been separately operated, were integrated into the developed harvester, the developed harvester is expected to maximize bale production efficiency and increase labor productivity, thereby increasing farming profitability.