Performance Evaluation of Sugarcane Harvester in Lower North Region of Thailand

Abstract

Sugarcane harvesters play an important role in the reduction of atmospheric PM2.5 caused by the burning of sugarcane crop and the shortage of labor in sugarcane harvesting. This research aimed at the performance evaluation of medium-size (164-179 kW) and large-size (251-260 kW) sugarcane harvester used in Lower North region of Thailand. Two models of medium-size and two models of large-size sugarcane harvesters were tested in Khon Kaen-3 variety sugarcane field with the row space of 1.72 m and the average row length of 284.2 m at Amphoe Bueng Na Rang, Phichit province. The average moisture of the loam soil, with the soil bulk density of 1.16 g·cm^-3, in the field at the depth of 0-10 cm was 13.87%db. The results showed that the speed and the field capacity of the medium-size and large-size harvesters were significantly different. The average speeds of the medium-size and the large-size harvesters were 1.04 and 1.50 m·s^-1, while the average field capacities were 30.93 and 49.62 tons per hour, respectively. The contamination percentages were not significantly different between the two groups of harvesters. However, the farmers in Lower North region mostly grow their sugarcane with the row space of 1.50 m, which is suitable for medium-size harvesters as the wheels would not damage the sugarcane stubble at row spacing of 1.50 and 1.72 m but the large-size is not suitable for the row spacing of 1.50 m.