15
© The Author(s) 2020
M. Gummert et al. (eds.), Sustainable Rice Straw Management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32373-8_2
Chapter 2
Mechanized Collection and Densification
of Rice Straw
Carlito Balingbing, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Nguyen Van
Hieu, Ampy Paulo Roxas, Caesar Joventino Tado, Elmer Bautista,
and Martin Gummert
Abstract The introduction of combine harvesters has made rice straw collection a
major challenge and has brought bottlenecks to the rice straw supply chain. Due to
this and the lack of knowledge on the straw’s alternative uses, farmers burn the biomass in the field for ease of land preparation. This practice creates negative impacts
on human health and the environment. However, as an alternative to burning, some
Asian countries are developing increasing demands for rice straw for mushroom
production, cattle feedstock, power generation, and building materials.
Mechanized straw collection has become necessary to increase capacity and to
lower transportation costs. Baling machines can collect and compact rice straw in
varying forms and densities. In the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam, adoption of rice
straw balers have significantly improved rice straw management. A baler hauled by
a 30-HP tractor has a collection capacity equal to five people, solving the labor
shortage problem in rice straw collection. In addition, the volumetric weight of
mechanically compacted straw bales is 50–100% higher than that of loose straw,
which significantly reduces handling and transportation costs. High-density compaction (e.g., stationary compaction, briquetting, and pelletizing) can further
increase the volumetric weight of baled straw from 400% to 700%, reducing transportation costs by more than 60%.
Mechanized rice straw collection and densification have contributed to improvement of the supply chain and resulted in sustainable management of rice straw. This
chapter discusses the different technologies for rice straw collection, enumerating
C. Balingbing (*) · N. V. Hung · A. P. Roxas · M. Gummert
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
e-mail: c.balingbing@irri.org; hung.nguyen@irri.org; a.roxas@irri.org; m.gummert@irri.org
N. T. Nghi
Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
N. Van Hieu
Tien Giang University, Tiền Giang, Vietnam
C. J. Tado · E. Bautista
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Los Baños, Philippines
e-mail: cjm.tado@philrice.gov.ph; eg.bautista@philrice.gov.ph
© The Author(s) 2020
M. Gummert et al. (eds.), Sustainable Rice Straw Management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32373-8_2
Chapter 2
Mechanized Collection and Densification
of Rice Straw
Carlito Balingbing, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Nguyen Van
Hieu, Ampy Paulo Roxas, Caesar Joventino Tado, Elmer Bautista,
and Martin Gummert
Abstract The introduction of combine harvesters has made rice straw collection a
major challenge and has brought bottlenecks to the rice straw supply chain. Due to
this and the lack of knowledge on the straw’s alternative uses, farmers burn the biomass in the field for ease of land preparation. This practice creates negative impacts
on human health and the environment. However, as an alternative to burning, some
Asian countries are developing increasing demands for rice straw for mushroom
production, cattle feedstock, power generation, and building materials.
Mechanized straw collection has become necessary to increase capacity and to
lower transportation costs. Baling machines can collect and compact rice straw in
varying forms and densities. In the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam, adoption of rice
straw balers have significantly improved rice straw management. A baler hauled by
a 30-HP tractor has a collection capacity equal to five people, solving the labor
shortage problem in rice straw collection. In addition, the volumetric weight of
mechanically compacted straw bales is 50–100% higher than that of loose straw,
which significantly reduces handling and transportation costs. High-density compaction (e.g., stationary compaction, briquetting, and pelletizing) can further
increase the volumetric weight of baled straw from 400% to 700%, reducing transportation costs by more than 60%.
Mechanized rice straw collection and densification have contributed to improvement of the supply chain and resulted in sustainable management of rice straw. This
chapter discusses the different technologies for rice straw collection, enumerating
C. Balingbing (*) · N. V. Hung · A. P. Roxas · M. Gummert
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
e-mail: c.balingbing@irri.org; hung.nguyen@irri.org; a.roxas@irri.org; m.gummert@irri.org
N. T. Nghi
Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
N. Van Hieu
Tien Giang University, Tiền Giang, Vietnam
C. J. Tado · E. Bautista
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Los Baños, Philippines
e-mail: cjm.tado@philrice.gov.ph; eg.bautista@philrice.gov.ph