Stalk Chopper Research Articles

Theoretical and experimental aspects of studying the disc working body of the feed chopper

The article discusses the issue of preparing stalk feed for feeding cattle in small-scale farming with an energy-saving technical means, a stalk chopper with a disk working body. A constructive-technological scheme of a disk working body of a grinder equipped with combined cutting segments is proposed. The main results of theoretical and experimental studies of the process of milling stem feed are presented.

An Engineering Intervention to Prevent Paddy Straw Burning Through In Situ Microbial Degradation

The study intended to design, develop and evaluate mechanical interface on the basis of physical, engineering and mechanical properties of paddy straw for size reduction. The mechanical interface comprised of loose straw collector, stalk chopper, conveyor, applicator and discharging unit. A 300 L plastic cistern containing fungal inoculum dose prepared from Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus awamori, Phanerochaete chryosporium and Trichoderma viride was installed to apply the fungal inoculum uniformly @1000 g per 1000 kg of the chopped straw. The chopped straw was subjected to degradation in rectangular strips with and without inoculant overhead and rotavator incorporated with soil. The treated straw assimilated with the soil bolstered the nitrogen content to 182.0 kg ha−1, phosphorus 63.5 kg ha−1, potassium 1862.5 kg ha−1 and organic carbon 0.51% from initial value of 110.6 kg ha−1, 42.8 kg ha−1, 1068.4 kg ha−1 and 0.33%, respectively. In S3, the soil–straw–microbe interaction provided feasible conditions for the microbial growth, depicted from 53.5% upsurge in dehydrogenase activity to 111.04 µg TPF g−1 per 24 h. The surge in microbial growth coincided with the 16.8% increase in biomass consumption and releasing of CO2 from 272.8 to 319.1 milligram within first phase of degradation. The rapid growth of the microbes at the initial stage decreased the moisture and resources essential for sustaining the growth. In the final stage, the dehydrogenase activity and biomass content decreased 6% to 105.04 µg TPF g−1 per 24 h and 23.7%, decreasing the emission of carbon dioxide to 307.1 mg within 45 days degradation period. The variation in the emission at the last stage can serve as ammunition to fight carbon dioxide induced global climate change.

RESULTS OF TESTS ON THE STALK AND GRAIN CRUSHER OF A SMALL FODDER SHOP

It is known that in Kazakhstan, 70 ... 80 percent of peasant farms have no more than 100 head of cattle and 500 head of sheep. To fatten these farms and to prepare a complete ration with combined feed in dairy farms, a distributer-mixer with a box with a capacity of 3 ... 5 m3 is needed. Since the equipment of these distributer-mixer machines with stalk and grain crushers ensures that it chops fodder itself and loads them onto a hay rye and grain warehouse of a mobile fodder shop, in the process of preparing a full ration of a combined feed, the number of operations will be reduced by 1.67 times, and the operating costs of the unit will be reduced by 1.5 times. In addition, if the stalk fodder is crushed by zootechnical requirements, i.e. 30 to 50 mm, then the uniformity of the mixing process increases. Here you can mix with the addition of nutrient feed in the preparation of the combined feed, that is, the use of a mobile fodder shop in the household allows you to carry out the process of preparing a combined feed using new and inexpensive technologies, i.e. the use of a mobile fodder shop equipped with special crushers is a technological innovation. At present, the “Scientific Production Center of Agroengineering” on small farms is developing a mobile fodder shop for the preparation and distribution of compound feeds with a capacity of 5.0 m3, equipped with crushers for stalk and croup. In addition, in order to simplify the drive to the crusher and to make the design simple, the crusher of the stalk and grain are equipped with one bucket, that is, this is a technical novelty of the mobile fodder shop. Stalk and grain crushers of mobile fodder shops were made and tested. During the tests, the productivity of the stalk chopper is 2.5 ... 3.0 t/h, the power consumption is 6.2...7.0 kW, and the productivity of the grain crusher is 750 - 900 kg/h, and it was found that the power consumption in the performance range will be between 5.1 ... 7.2 kW. It was proved that the size of the crushed stalk and grain meets zootechnical requirements.

Microbial biomass and soil fauna during the decomposition of cover crops in no-tillage system

The decomposition of plant residues is a biological process mediated by soil fauna, but few studies have been done evaluating its dynamics in time during the process of disappearance of straw. This study was carried out in Chapecó, in southern Brazil, with the objective of monitoring modifications in soil fauna populations and the C content in the soil microbial biomass (C SMB) during the decomposition of winter cover crop residues in a no-till system. The following treatments were tested: 1) Black oat straw (Avena strigosa Schreb.); 2) Rye straw (Secale cereale L.); 3) Common vetch straw (Vicia sativa L.). The cover crops were grown until full flowering and then cut mechanically with a rolling stalk chopper. The soil fauna and C content in soil microbial biomass (C SMB) were assessed during the period of straw decomposition, from October 2006 to February 2007. To evaluate C SMB by the irradiation-extraction method, soil samples from the 0-10 cm layer were used, collected on eight dates, from before until 100 days after residue chopping. The soil fauna was collected with pitfall traps on seven dates up to 85 days after residue chopping. The phytomass decomposition of common vetch was faster than of black oat and rye residues. The C SMB decreased during the process of straw decomposition, fastest in the treatment with common vetch. In the common vetch treatment, the diversity of the soil fauna was reduced at the end of the decomposition process.

Design, construction and evaluation of a stalk chopper

Proper feeding of animals is very important in any animal husbandry business. Therefore effective utilization of the available food sources is very necessary. It is as a result of this that a stalk chopper was constructed using locally available materials. The major components of the machine are the hopper, the chopping knives, the chopping chamber, the frame and the prime mover which drives the chopping disc carrying the knives. It has a material capacity of 45.69 kg/hr and cutting efficiency of 91%. Commercialization of this machine will encourage farmers to engage in more animal farming as there will be better usage of crop residue which were hitherto not properly utilized.

Study on the Technics Principle for Stalk and Stubble Chopper Based on No-Tillage Planter

Several kinds of main stalk and stubble processing technologies and corresponding machines used in Liaoning Province are researched in this paper. The key parameters influenced stubble chopping are analyzed on the basis of understanding the principles of “ 2BISJ-2110 precision planter”. In order to solve the shortcoming of disturbing much soil and more power loss of“2BISJ-2110 precision planter” and achieve saving materials, reduce the cost and the water massive disappearing due to the agitation of the soil, entire stubble chopping is changed to seed line stubble chopping. Using the computer VB language to study the parameters of stalks and stubbles according to mathematical model about coulter ends and the path. In order to realize the narrow band and shallow treatment of the stalks and stubbles , taking single ridge width as 100-110mm and using the Solidwork software to design and draw rotary blade , L stubble breaking blade, cutter head ,blade holder , roller and so on . 2 kinds of feasible knife roll disposition plans are presented, which provides a design basis for new type narrow band rotary cultivation stalk and stubble chopper.

A study on the chopping and mixing of cotton stalks with soil

This study examined the methods adopted in Turkey to remove cotton stalks remaining in the field after the cotton harvest and quantified the efficiency of different mechanized stalk choppers. In this study, the performance of three different types of cotton stalk choppers was assessed (chain-type, splined-type and vertical-blade rotating dredge). Field experiments were conducted with each type to determine the proportion of non-uprooted cotton stalks; mean “post-chopping height” of the stalks, measured from soil surface; and the frequency distribution of the piece length of the stalks scattered around the field or mixed with soil after chopping. In addition, the workforce requirement, using time and fuel consumption of each type of chopper was calculated. The lowest fuel consumption was recorded by the chain-type stalk chopper (5.0 l/da), while the highest fuel consumption was recorded by the vertical-blade rotating dredge (7.1 l/ha). The largest “mean post-chopping piece size” was achieved by the vertical-blade rotating dredge plus geared cylinder (28.36 cm), while the smallest size was recorded by the splinedtype stalk chopper (13.38 cm). The highest rate of stalks mixed with the soil after chopping was achieved by the splined-type stalk copper (92.5%).

The evaluation of alternative stalk chopping methods in sunflower farming

In this study, the alternative chopping methods were compared in sunflower farming. After harvesting sunflower stalk was chopped with three different methods by using three different stalk chopper machines. Two different rotary type machines (RT1 and RT2) and heavy duty disc harrow (CON) were applied in the experiment. Heavy duty disc harrow used as conventional method. Particle size distribution after chopping, management parameters of the machines and energy requirements were determined in the experiment. Maximum frequency with 37.09% for RT1 and 24.62% for CON were found in the stalk size group of 102 - 173 mm. Whereas, maximum frequency with 31.08% was obtained in the size group of 30 - 101 mm for RT2. The highest fuel consumption (19.28 L.ha-1) was obtained in CON method and the highest field efficiency with 0.886 ha.h-1 was found in RT2. RT1 has 756.1 MJ.ha-1total energy requirements. RT2 has 868.3 MJ.ha-1 and CON has 944.3 MJ.ha-1. The differences among methods in frequency of particle sizes, values of fuel consumption and total energy requirements were found to be statistically significant. Key words: Sunflower, stalk, shedding, chopper, energy.

Method and Timing of Rye Control Affects Soybean Development and Resource Utilization

Cover crops provide environmental and soil quality benefits, yet their adoption into production agriculture has been limited. This study was conducted to determine the influence of the growth stage and method of rye (Secale cereale L.) control on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] development and resource utilization. Fall‐planted rye was controlled the following spring using a stalk chopper (mechanical) or glyphosate (chemical) at the second‐node, boot, and anthesis growth stages near Boone, IA, in 2002 and 2003. Regrowth from mechanical rye control in 2002 depleted soil water until rye matured. Maximum light interception by soybean was reduced by as much as 43 and 30% in chemical and 51 and 23% in mechanical control compared with the no‐rye check in 2002 and 2003. Dry matter (DM) accumulation was reduced by as much as 267 and 907 g m−2 in chemical and mechanical control in 2002 compared with the check. In 2003, the range in DM accumulation was 242 g m−2. Rye delayed pod maturity in both years by as much as 7.9 d. Producers who adopt these methods of rye management can expect delayed soybean maturity and reduced DM accumulation.

Mechanical versus herbicidal strategies for killing a hairy vetch cover crop and controlling weeds in minimum-tillage corn production

AbstractThe development of production systems that provide the benefits of reduced tillage and also reduce or eliminate herbicide inputs presents a challenge to practitioners of sustainable agriculture. This research was conducted to evaluate management approaches for minimum-tillage corn production in a hairy vetch cover crop, specifically, mechanical versus herbicidal methods for pre-plant cover-crop kill and for post-emergence control of emerged weeds. Pre-plant treatments included 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] plus residual herbicides, 2,4-D alone, flail mower, corn stalk chopper, light disk and heavy disk. The pre-plant herbicide treatments were followed by a post-emergence treatment of dicamba, whereas the pre-plant mechanical treatments were followed by post-emergence cultivation, as needed, for weed control. The mechanical treatments that kept residue on the soil surface (mower, stalk chopper and light disk) killed hairy vetch when it was flowering, but not when vegetative. The herbicide treatment with pre-plant 2,4-D alone, followed by dicamba post-emergence, controlled annual broadleaf weeds (the dominant species in these experiments) similarly to treatment with 2,4-D plus residual herbicides, suggesting that residual herbicides may be eliminated in cover-crop-based no-tillage systems. The pre-plant mechanical treatments followed by cultivation did not control annual broadleaf weeds as well as herbicide treatments, but did maintain final populations below threshold levels in two of four experiments. The stalk chopper and light disk left high levels of vetch residue on the soil surface, and reduced initial broadleaf weed populations compared with the heavy disk that incorporated residue. However, broadleaf weed populations were reduced with less efficiency by cultivation of unfilled soil following the stalk chopper or light disk (38–69%) than by cultivation of tilled soil following the heavy disk (87–95%). Thus, although maintaining surface cover-crop residue without tillage initially reduced weed emergence, it also reduced the efficiency of cultivation, leading to similar final weed populations in all mechanical-based, pre-plant treatments.

403 Butternut Squash (Cucurbita moschata) Yield and Soil Erosion in Three Tillage Systems

Many squash varieties are large-seeded and may be well-suited for planting under no-till production systems. A study was done at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Bridgeton, N.J., to evaluate the yield and loss of soil when butternut squash (BS) (Cucurbita moschata `Waltham') was grown using no-till (NT), strip-till (ST), and bare ground (BG) tillage systems. The soil was a Sassafrass gravely sand loam and the field had a 3% slope. A cover crop mixture of hairy vetch and winter rye planted on 23 Sept. 1998 using a Brillion seeder at a rate of 136.2 kg/ha and 610.2 kg/ha, respectively, was used to create the NT and ST plots. NT and ST plots containing the cover crop mixture were killed with Glyphosate and chopped using a Buffalo stalk chopper on 27 May. BG plots were tilled clean before planting and ST plots were rototilled to a 30.48 cm band to establish a seedbed. BS seeds were hand-planted on 7 July with a spacing of 38.1 cm between plants and 182.9 cm between rows. Irrigation was applied overhead at a rate of 6.28 cm/ha weekly. Erosion was measured using inverted pans over the soil area to be measured. Harvest took place on 21Oct. and yields included only marketable fruit with the following results: NT = 8.65 t/ha; ST = 8.99 t/ha; BG = 4.06 t/ha. Yields in the NT and ST plots were significantly higher than yields in the BG plots. Soil erosion measurements were taken on 21 Oct. Soil loss results from the plots were 0.08 cm (NT), 0.84 cm (ST), and 3.33 cm (BG). Soil loss, mainly due to water erosion, was significantly higher in the BG plots. BS yields can be significantly higher when using alternative tillage systems like NT and ST. When using NT and ST systems for the production of BS, soil erosion is reduced

Tillage and Planting System, Stalk Chopper, and Knife Applicator Influences on Corn Residue Cover

Percent corn (Zea mays L.) residue cover remaining on the soil surface after planting was measured for 11 tillage and planting systems that included combinations of the use, and timing, of a stalk chopper and/or a knife-type fertilizer applicator. Tillage, as well as use of a stalk chopper or knife applicator, significantly reduced residue cover. Only 27 of the 69 stalk chopper/knife applicator/tillage and planting system treatment combinations that were evaluated could be classified as conservation tillage by having at least 30% residue cover remaining after planting.