Some perennial grasses, such as reed canarygrass (RCG) and switchgrass (SWG), have prolific yield and low inputs, making them attractive as biomass feedstocks. When harvested as biomass, these grasses are more mature and have much greater yield than when harvested as animal forage. Much is unknown about how harvest equipment performance and storage characteristics are affected by these crop conditions. The objective of this research was to determine the crop yield and drying rate, baling rate, bale density, and bale storage characteristics of these grasses harvested as biomass feedstocks. After the establishment year, the three-year average yield of RCG was 21% less than SWG (7.70 vs. 9.69 Mg DM ha-1) using a single-cutting system that occurred in August. When the crops were left standing over winter and harvested in the spring, DM yields were reduced by 17% and 26% for SWG and RCG, respectively. When crop yield was similar, switchgrass tended to dry faster than reed canarygrass. Drying rates of these grasses were faster than typically experienced with forage crops like alfalfa. Bale density averaged 163 kg DM m-3 with no significant differences between crops or type of wrap (twine or net). Dry bales stored outdoors for 9 to 11 months averaged 3.8%, 4.8%, 7.5%, 8.7%, and 14.9% DM loss for bales wrapped with plastic film, breathable film, net wrap, plastic twine, and sisal twine, respectively. Bales stored under cover averaged 3.0% DM loss. The chemical and physical properties of bales stored outdoors were spatially variable. Preservation by ensiling in a tube produced average DM losses of 1.1% at average moisture of 39.9% (w.b.).
Reed canarygrass and switchgrass were established on 4 ha plots so that crop drying rate, baling rate, bale density, storage losses, and quality changes could be determined. In a single-cut system, switchgrass yield was 8% greater than reed canarygrass in the second year of production. Reed canarygrass yield was 14% greater in a two cutting system than a single cut system. Initial moisture at cutting was 58 to 47% (w.b.) for reed canarygrass and 66 to 46% (w.b.) for switchgrass. When crop yield was similar, switchgrass tended to dry faster than reed canarygrass. When crop was placed in a wide-swath by tedding, it was possible to achieve baling moisture (< 20% w.b.) in a single day. Bale density averaged 163 kg DM/m 3 with no significant differences between crops or type of wrap (twine or net). Dry bales stored outdoors for 9 and 11 months averaged 3.4, 7.7, 8.3, and 14.9% DM loss for bales wrapped with plastic film, net wrap, plastic twine, and sisal twine, respectively. Bales stored indoors averaged 3.0% DM loss. The most uniform biomass feedstock was generated by storing indoors or ensiling in a tube of plastic film. Preservation by ensiling in a tube of plastic film produced average DM losses of 1.1%. Baling and then ensiling without field wilting was successful.
A grain combine was modified to produce single-pass, whole-plant corn harvesting with two crop streams, grain and stover. Three corn heads were used: ear-snapper, stalk-gathering and whole-plant. Capture of potential stover DM was 30, 67 and 90% of DM for a combine harvester configured with an earsnapper, stalk-gathering and whole-plant heads, respectively. Stover aggregate moisture was 51.0 and 52.5% (w.b.) for the whole-plant and stalk-gathering heads (front wagon only), respectively. Aggregate moisture of stover from the ear-snapper and stalk-gathering heads (rear wagon only) was 38.5% (w.b.). When the stalk-gathering or whole-plant heads were used, greater stover feedrate limited ground speed, so area capacity was 3.4, 2.2, and 2.0 ha/h, for the ear-snapper, stalk-gathering and whole-plant heads, respectively. Wet and dry bulk density was 163 and 100; 147 and 70; and 80 and 38 kg/m 3 for the earsnapper, stalk-gathering and whole-plant heads, respectively. Fermentation of single-pass stover in a bag silo was very good with DM losses after eight months of storage of 4.1 and 6.7% for the material harvested with the whole-plant and stalk-gathering heads, respectively.
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