Experimental Research on the Effect of Sugarcane Stalk Lifting Height on the Cutting Breakage Mechanism Based on the Sugarcane Lifting–Cutting System (SLS)

Abstract

The sugarcane lifting–cutting System (SLS) is the core component of the sugarcane harvester, and the influence of its stalk lifting height on the mechanism of perennial root-cutting damage is still unclear. The test was conducted with the vertical height of centroid (VHC), forward velocity, and cutter rotational speed. Numerical quantification of perennial root based on the cutting breakage effect and cutting breakage grade (CBG) classification was used as the evaluation index. The test results showed that the VHC had a highly significant effect on the CBG of the perennial root. The CBG of the stalk decreased significantly with the lifting height. The average CBG was greater than 2.0 when the stalk lifting height was severely collapsed. The CBG ≤ 1.6 was considered qualified, and the requirements were met when the VHC of the stalk was about 0.85~1.0 m at a forward velocity of 1~3 km/h. The inverted angle of the stalk being lifted was selected to be 45° as the evaluation standard to measure the qualified lifting of the spiral sugarcane lifter. This study provides technical support for the optimal design and selection of operating parameters of the sugarcane harvester.

Continuous and Impact Cutting in Mechanized Sugarcane Harvest: Quality, Losses and Impurities

“…In area 3, there was the point with the greatest significant distance between the systems (0.41) and the highest damage index observed for the knives during the test (0.67), showing that the knives had difficulty cutting in the double alternating spacing, indicating a greater difficulty in aligning the knives and the crop line. Wang et al [7] showed that Momin et al [27] stated that the choice of inefficient and low-quality cutting systems could compromise the sugarcane field's longevity and reduce the crop's potential. Inadequate cuts cause fractures in the stumps remaining in the soil, preventing future sprouting; therefore, cutting with knives becomes risky in high-productivity sugarcane systems.…”

“…In area 3, there was the point with the greatest significant distance between the systems (0.41) and the highest damage index observed for the knives during the test (0.67), showing that the knives had difficulty cutting in the double alternating spacing, indicating a greater difficulty in aligning the knives and the crop line. Wang et al [7] showed that some machine devices might be responsible for increased crop losses. Thus, the angle of the cane and the lifting mechanism are fundamental in the shock rates of stumps.…”

“…Mechanized sugarcane harvesting brought several environmental benefits, reducing the need for labor and fires [1] and increasing agricultural performance [2]. However, mechanized harvesting also generates problems, such as increased raw impurities, field losses [3], lower cut quality [4][5][6][7] and ratoons with damage [8], resulting in fragmented stumps [9].…”

Produtos ecológicos para a Indústria da Construção Civil

“…está presente em 121 países, ocupando uma área aproximada de 24 milhões de hectares, e é responsável pelo fornecimento de coprodutos como o açúcar, o etanol e a bioeletricidade. É caracterizada por ser uma cultura semi perene adaptada para as áreas tropicais e subtropicais, cuja importância econômica a torna fundamental para a economia das localidades em que é cultivada [15][16] [17][18] [19].…”