PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF MOBILE STRAW BALER

Abstract

Wheat bhoosa (chopped wheat straw) is an important component of stockfeed in Pakistan. The improper storage conditions of bhoosa in mud plaster structure adversely affect the quality. The transportation of bhoosa from field to storage place is cumbersome and costly. The baling of bhoosa in the field makes its handling and transportation much easier and cost effective with minimum loss of the product. A power take off operated mobile straw baler was developed at Agricultural Mechanization Research Institute, Multan, Pakistan during the year to make bales of straw in the field. It can be operated by a 36.75 kW (50 hp) tractor, or a 14.7 kW (20 hp) diesel engine or a 14 kW electric motor. It has the capacity to make a bale of 34.6 kg with an overall dimensions of 391 x 457.13 x 635 mm. It requires 4.3 minutes and 17 men-minutes to prepare one bale. The baler can be used for other crop residues such as cotton sticks, corn stover and sugarcane chuff. The baler has an outputs of 20, 16, 18 and 16 bales per hour for bhoosa, cotton sticks, corn stovers and sugarcane chuff, respectively. The capital cost of baler is Rs. 0.35 million with an operating cost of Rs. 17, 10 and 38 when operated with diesel engine, electric motor and tractor, respectively. Its commercial production has been started by a local manufacturer.