16
the benefits and downsides, as well as options for further densification to reduce
transportation and handling costs. The benefits and costs of various alternatives for
mechanized straw collection and densification are compared and further
elaborated.
Keywords Mechanized straw collection · Rice straw balers · Densification ·
Straw compaction · Briquetting · Pelletizing
2.1 Introduction
The intensification of rice production and rising labor costs have led to the spread of
combine harvesters in Asian rice fields at harvest time. Combine harvesters leave
loose rice straw on the ground, making its collection and transportation difficult,
laborious, and costly. Annually, about from 600 to 800 million tons of rice straw are
produced in Asia; globally approximately 1 billion tons are produced (Sarkar and
Aikat 2013; McLaughlin et al. 2016). Farmers choose the quick solution of burning
rice straw to quickly remove the biomass and prepare the field for the next crop.
In-field burning of rice straw contributes to the emission of greenhouse gas (GHG)
and poses health and environmental hazards. In addition, the potential energy that
can be derived from the biomass is lost (Tabil et al. 2011).
Loose rice straw is low in density, irregular in size and shape, and difficult to
handle manually. Transportation and storage of rice straw in its original form are
labor-intensive and costly. The amount of rice straw available for alternative uses
would be limited if there is no better way to collect it after harvest. Collecting
machines make it feasible to remove a huge amount of straw in a short time (between
two cropping seasons): thus, they are more economical and efficient than manual
collection.
Collection of rice straw in the field using balers is becoming common in many
Asian countries such as China, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and
Thailand, partly due to environmental regulations against field burning due to its
many harmful effects (see Chaps. 8, 9, and 10). Straw needs to be gathered from
the field and compressed into bales to make it compact and easy to transport.
Collecting dry rice straw (moisture content at 22–32% wet basis) during the dry
season is easy with a baling machine because it is lighter and does not clog the
machine during baling. On the other hand, working on a wet field is quite difficult
and compressing wet straw is a big challenge for the baling mechanism and
requires more energy.
High-density compaction of rice straw can produce high-end market products
such as high-density square bales, briquettes, and pellets, the use of which can
reduce handling and transportation costs and improve processing efficiency. (Adapa
et al. 2011; Emami et al. 2014).
C. Balingbing et al.
the benefits and downsides, as well as options for further densification to reduce
transportation and handling costs. The benefits and costs of various alternatives for
mechanized straw collection and densification are compared and further
elaborated.
Keywords Mechanized straw collection · Rice straw balers · Densification ·
Straw compaction · Briquetting · Pelletizing
2.1 Introduction
The intensification of rice production and rising labor costs have led to the spread of
combine harvesters in Asian rice fields at harvest time. Combine harvesters leave
loose rice straw on the ground, making its collection and transportation difficult,
laborious, and costly. Annually, about from 600 to 800 million tons of rice straw are
produced in Asia; globally approximately 1 billion tons are produced (Sarkar and
Aikat 2013; McLaughlin et al. 2016). Farmers choose the quick solution of burning
rice straw to quickly remove the biomass and prepare the field for the next crop.
In-field burning of rice straw contributes to the emission of greenhouse gas (GHG)
and poses health and environmental hazards. In addition, the potential energy that
can be derived from the biomass is lost (Tabil et al. 2011).
Loose rice straw is low in density, irregular in size and shape, and difficult to
handle manually. Transportation and storage of rice straw in its original form are
labor-intensive and costly. The amount of rice straw available for alternative uses
would be limited if there is no better way to collect it after harvest. Collecting
machines make it feasible to remove a huge amount of straw in a short time (between
two cropping seasons): thus, they are more economical and efficient than manual
collection.
Collection of rice straw in the field using balers is becoming common in many
Asian countries such as China, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and
Thailand, partly due to environmental regulations against field burning due to its
many harmful effects (see Chaps. 8, 9, and 10). Straw needs to be gathered from
the field and compressed into bales to make it compact and easy to transport.
Collecting dry rice straw (moisture content at 22–32% wet basis) during the dry
season is easy with a baling machine because it is lighter and does not clog the
machine during baling. On the other hand, working on a wet field is quite difficult
and compressing wet straw is a big challenge for the baling mechanism and
requires more energy.
High-density compaction of rice straw can produce high-end market products
such as high-density square bales, briquettes, and pellets, the use of which can
reduce handling and transportation costs and improve processing efficiency. (Adapa
et al. 2011; Emami et al. 2014).
C. Balingbing et al.