21
by the reciprocal piston operation. In most models, a slip clutch on the flywheel
protects the baler drive and packing system from overloading.
2.4 Commonly Used Rice Straw Balers in Asia
Small balers are better adopted and adapted in Asia as most rice fields are small at
an average of about 0.05–0.4 ha (Gummert et al. 2019). Both round and square balers are adopted depending on many factors, such as soil and field conditions; preferences on bale weight; handling, transportation, storage, and multiple use purposes;
and available tractors. For example, in Vietnam, farmers prefer small round balers
because of their suitability for available tractors, speed in small fields, and the
weight of the bales (12 kg bale
−1
) produced is suitable for manual handling.
Self-propelled round balers were developed by some local manufacturers in
Vietnam (Fig. 2.7a). The design is basically a round baler placed on a self-propelled
undercarriage adapted from combine harvesters. It bales the straw, temporarily containing the bales on its carrier platform, and transports and discharges the bales onto
the bunds. It requires a higher engine capacity compared to the tractor needed to
pull the small round baler. Collection capacity is slightly lower as it moves on rubber tracks, which allow it to be used on wet fields. This and the machine’s ability to
move the bales to bunds have contributed to its wide adoption in the country.
Another type of self-propelled loose straw collection machine (Fig. 2.7b) was
also developed based on the principle similar to the self-propelled baler except that
it does not have a compacting component. This machine is used to gather scattered
straw on the field and transport it loose to the side of the field.
Table 2.1 presents the features of some typical balers that are commonly used in
Asia. The loose straw collection machine is normally used in a dry field for continuous operation, which is interrupted only when gathered straw is brought to the side
of the field. A stationary baler can also run continuously and is typically used in a
Fig. 2.7 A self-propelled baler (a) and a loose straw collecting machine (b) operating in the field
in Vietnam
2 Mechanized Collection and Densification of Rice Straw
by the reciprocal piston operation. In most models, a slip clutch on the flywheel
protects the baler drive and packing system from overloading.
2.4 Commonly Used Rice Straw Balers in Asia
Small balers are better adopted and adapted in Asia as most rice fields are small at
an average of about 0.05–0.4 ha (Gummert et al. 2019). Both round and square balers are adopted depending on many factors, such as soil and field conditions; preferences on bale weight; handling, transportation, storage, and multiple use purposes;
and available tractors. For example, in Vietnam, farmers prefer small round balers
because of their suitability for available tractors, speed in small fields, and the
weight of the bales (12 kg bale
−1
) produced is suitable for manual handling.
Self-propelled round balers were developed by some local manufacturers in
Vietnam (Fig. 2.7a). The design is basically a round baler placed on a self-propelled
undercarriage adapted from combine harvesters. It bales the straw, temporarily containing the bales on its carrier platform, and transports and discharges the bales onto
the bunds. It requires a higher engine capacity compared to the tractor needed to
pull the small round baler. Collection capacity is slightly lower as it moves on rubber tracks, which allow it to be used on wet fields. This and the machine’s ability to
move the bales to bunds have contributed to its wide adoption in the country.
Another type of self-propelled loose straw collection machine (Fig. 2.7b) was
also developed based on the principle similar to the self-propelled baler except that
it does not have a compacting component. This machine is used to gather scattered
straw on the field and transport it loose to the side of the field.
Table 2.1 presents the features of some typical balers that are commonly used in
Asia. The loose straw collection machine is normally used in a dry field for continuous operation, which is interrupted only when gathered straw is brought to the side
of the field. A stationary baler can also run continuously and is typically used in a
Fig. 2.7 A self-propelled baler (a) and a loose straw collecting machine (b) operating in the field
in Vietnam
2 Mechanized Collection and Densification of Rice Straw