Evaluation of the Technical and Economical Effects of the Using of Machinery System for Processing of Straw for Energy Purposes

Abstract

In conditions of the agriculture in Slovak republic the straw, obtained as a by-product from cereals cropping systems, has a growing potential to be used as an important renewable energy source. This trend is fully consistent with the energy policy of the European Union, which aims to reduce the negative environmental impacts of fossil fuel use. The aim of the presented paper was to evaluate technical and economic effects of the using of the system for processing of straw including straw baling, transport and handling of the straw bales. During the years 2010-2012 the field experiments have been conducted in conditions of the large-scale farm (2770 ha of arable land). For the straw baling, transport and handling of the straw bales there is used a machinery line consisting of the machines having a different performance and capacity. There was formulated a scientific hypothesis: capacity and economic efficiency of the machine line depend upon the technical parameters and operational management. During field experiments there were obtained information characterizing straw yield, weight, size and density of the straw bales, as well as data characterizing the used machines performance. In the next step there was prepared the input data for database and computer calculation has been conducted. Results obtained have allowed to know the effects of transport distance on the fuel consumption during straw harvest, baling and bales transport and level of costs for different carrying capacity of the trailers used for straw bales transport. The results confirmed the validity of the hypothesis and has allowed to know the technical and economic effects of the using of the system for processing of straw for energy purposes used in given production conditions.