Measurement of mulcher power input in relation to yield

F. Kumhála¹*, J. Chyba¹, M. Pexa¹ and J. Čedík²

¹Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Kamýcká 129, CZ 165 21 Prague-6 Suchdol, Czech Republic
²Research Institute of Agricultural Engineering, p.r.i., Drnovská 507, CZ 161 01 Prague-6, Czech Republic
*Correspondence: kumhala@tf.czu.cz

Abstract:

Mulching is one of relatively energy-demanding operations in plant production. That is why the knowledge of mulcher power input is very interesting and can be used e.g. for mulcher design improvement etc. Field experiments were arranged in order to measure mulcher power input also in relation to yield. The field of about 1.25 ha area was harvested by mulcher MZ6000 produced by BEDNAR FMT Co. This machine has three rotors with vertical axis, working width 6 m and was aggregated with JD 7930 tractor. Power input was measured by torque dynamometer Manner MFI 2500 placed at tractor PTO shaft. Measured data were processed by A/D converter Labjack U 6 and saved. After the harvest, the samples of harvested material from area 6 x 1.65 m were weighted by hands on 102 places in almost regular grid. Average measured mulcher power input was relatively high, 76 kW, with peaks reaching up 145 kW. The yield of harvested material on experimental field was very unbalanced and varied from 0.6 to 13 tonnes per hectare. The amount of measured data allowed the creation of power input and yield maps. By comparing the results from power input and yield measurement it was found that power input significantly depended on the yield. Information of mulcher power input can be used also for harvested material yield mapping.

Key words:

cutting, mulcher, power input, yield mapping

Influence of Heracleum sosnowskyi control measures on weed diversity in agricultural fields in Latvia

I. Vanaga, J. Gurkina, O. Treikale, I. Priekule and J. Pugacova

Latvian Plant Protection Research Centre, Lielvardes iela 36/38, Riga, LV1006, Latvia;e-mail: ineta.vanaga@laapc.lv

Abstract:

Abstract: In a field infested with Heracleum sosnowskyi, plots were cultivated by disc harrow or ploughed in 2003 and then sown with one of two grass mixtures. Half of the grass plots were sprayed once with a herbicide containing MCPA, fluroxypyr and chlorpyralid; the other half were cut 3 times with a hand mower. In 2004 a similar trial was established after an early season application of glyphosate to control Elymus repens and the soil had been deep ploughed. The most effective control of H. sosnowskyi and E. repens was obtained by glyphosate application after spring regrowth followed by deep ploughing. This treatment did not adversely affect either numbers of dicotyledonous species or numbers of dicotyledonous plants that grew in the sown grass swards. Ploughing gave better control of H. sosnowskyi and E. repens than disc harrowing and provided better seedbeds for sward establishment. Ploughing also increased the numbers of dicotyledonous species and plants compared to disc harrowing. Chemical weed control reduced diversity and plant numbers, but weed control by cutting did not.

Key words: