Reserach of the harvesting of red clover using the different technologies

Abstract

This study was conducted at the experimental field in IAgEng LUA during 2002–2004 to investigate the yield of red clover (Trifolium pratense c.v. ’Liepsna’) harvested using traditional cutting-threshing, windrow harvesting, two-phasic and stripping- threshing technologies. Biometrical indicators of red clover, agrotechnical and energy indicators of all mentioned technologies of red clover harvesting have been researched. Losses of cutting, stripping, threshing-separating and overall red clover seed losses when using combine-harvester’s SK-5, SR 500 with an experimental stripper header and without it, also when using the mowers ŽRB-4,2A, “Rasa” and KS-2,1 have been established in relation with the combine-harvester’s or the tractor’s working speed. Threshing stripped red clover heads by combine SR 500 improve the efficiency of combine-harvester by 2 times. In comparison with basic red clover harvesting technology, using stripping-threshing technology, 39 % of fuel in saved and the harvesting cost per hectare decreases by approximately 57 EUR.