Abstract

MIRANDA-CABALLERO, Alexander et al. Determination of the energy cost of mechanized harvesting rice. Rev Cie Téc Agr [online]. 2016, vol.25, n.4, pp. 32-38. ISSN 2071-0054.  http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11085.03044.

The foreseeable depletion of fossil fuels and the irreversible damage to the environment requires the adoption of new strategies on energy. The aim of this study was to determine the energy cost of mechanized harvesting of rice and compare the energy cost of the most commonly used harvesting machines with different working widths (CLAAS DOMINATOR and NEW HOLLAND TC 57), under the conditions of the Grain Agribusiness Enterprise “Los Palacios”. The results made it possible to know the structure of the total hourly energy cost for the harvester machines studied, being the corresponding fuel energy the one which represents the largest consumer of all partial energies with 70% (3 353 MJ/h), followed by repairing / maintenance energy with 15% (719 MJ/h), being inconsiderable the sequestered in lubricants and workforce with 3.4% (168 MJ/h) and 0.1% (6 MJ / h), respectively. CLAAS DOMINATOR harvester machines had the greatest total energy cost per worked area (2 596 MJ/ha), but they also achieved the best overall energy cost per harvested mass (562 MJ/t), confirming they are the most productive ones. The higher energy cost per fuel consumed corresponded to NEW HOLLAND TC 57 harvester machine with 70% of the total. With the application of these results the Grain Agribusiness Enterprise “Los Palacios” achieve a considerable fuel saving per campaign and greenhouse gases emissions are reduced

Keywords : harvester machine; energy; fuel; harvested mass productivity.

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