Abstract
Energycane is emerging as a candidate bioenergy crop, and it resembles sugarcane in stature and cultivation practices. Preliminary trials indicated that sugarcane billet harvesters have insufficient power to harvest energycane. This study quantified the power requirements of selected harvester components and field performance of harvesters for sugarcane and energycane. The elevator pour rate for energycane was lower (43.3 Mg h−1, wet weight) than for sugarcane (132.7 Mg h−1, wet weight). At the observed pour rates, power consumption of the basecutter, elevator, and the entire harvester was comparable for energycane and sugarcane. However, the power requirements of the chopper were 1.65 times higher for energycane than for sugarcane. Greater stem damage and higher stubble heights were observed for energycane compared to sugarcane. Overflowing of the elevator was observed for energycane because of lower bulk density of the biomass (billets and trash, 143.8 kg m−3) compared to sugarcane (predominantly billets, 349.4 kg m−3). The field capacity of the harvester for energycane (0.32 ha h−1) was lower than for sugarcane (0.61 ha h−1), and the harvesting cost for energycane (5.91 $ Mg−1) was considerably higher than for sugarcane (1.87 $ Mg−1). Design modifications to the existing sugarcane harvester models would be needed to adapt them to harvest energycane.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
