Energetic Assessment of Different Paddy Straw Densification Processes

Densification and handling of crop residue, especially paddy straw is a critical issue due to very high moisture content as well as relative humidity and abundant amount. In the present study, different densification processes using field balers and stationary balers were evaluated in chopped and full-length paddy straw. In the study, it was found that minimum energy was required for T₁ (50.16 MJ∙t⁻¹) followed by T₂ (102.65 MJ∙t⁻¹), T₃ (117.57 MJ∙t⁻¹), T₄ (144.53 MJ∙t⁻¹) and T₅ (152.53 MJ∙t⁻¹). There was a significant (p < 0.0001) variation in energy consumption between the different techniques used in the research. The scented variety of rice is mostly harvested manually. The densification of full-length paddy straw by a hydraulic press type fixed baler was found appropriate with baling capacity (1.13 tꞏh⁻¹), lowest energy requirement (50.16 MJꞏt⁻¹), and volume compaction ratio (6.87). In the case of combine harvested paddy, treatment T₂ was found most appropriate with maximum field capacity (0.54 haꞏh⁻¹), bailing capacity (4.43 tꞏh⁻¹), and volume compaction ratio (5.26). Treatment T₂ also has a minimum man-hour time requirement for straw handling and bailing (3.57 man-hꞏt⁻¹) out of which bailing of straw takes 0.44 hꞏt⁻¹ and consumes 102.65 MJꞏt⁻¹ energy. Based on the present study the farmer can decide the best densifying method for paddy straw among the selected treatments. Thus, the outcomes of the research will be helpful for the aligned industry as well for the farmer.