PostHarvest Physical Properties of Corn Stover

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Post-Harvest Physical Properties of Corn Stover

• by
• M.D. Montross, S.G. McNeill,
• S.A. Shearer, T.S. Stombaugh
• Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
  Department
• University of Kentucky

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Objectives

• Develop baseline data on the quantity and
  physical characteristic's of corn stover
• Quantify amount of stover harvested using
  existing equipment
• Track changes in dry matter loss, temperature,
  and moisture content during storage of round bales

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Farm Cooperator

• Worth Dee Ellis Farms in Shelby County,
  Kentucky (east of Louisville)
• Soils are a well drained silt loam
• Practiced no-till farming for 21 years
• Crop rotation of corn followed by soft red wheat
  and double crop soybeans

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Pre-Harvest Data Collection

• Sample field on 1 acre grid
• At each grid location
• Weight of 5 stalks in 2 rows
• Kept the lightest, middle, and heaviest stalks
• Plant population in 2 rows 3 m long
• Took 20 individual stalks from one spot

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Grid Layout
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Laboratory Analysis

• Shelled corn from each grid location (or
  individual plant)
• Measured weight of corn and biomass
• Determined moisture content in 100C oven for 3
  days

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Biomass Versus Dry Basis Grain Mass at Each Grid
Location
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Relationships Between Plant Components and Grain
Mass
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Distribution of Mass in Plant Components
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Collection Methods

• 12 row combine, 16 row planter
• Baler is a 5 x 6 variable chamber
• Four collection methods
• Rake and bale behind combine
• Rotary mower, rake, and bale
• Discbine and bale
• Bale behind combine

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Rotary Mower/Bale/Rake
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Collection Locations

• 36 acre field
• Pick 5 locations that are suitable (150 ft x 150
  ft)
• 4 locations for bale collection and storage
• 1 location mowed and baled over time

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Yield Map
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Grid Data of Biomass Distribution
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Bale Storage

• Take 12 bales from each of 4 locations for 3
  primary collection methods
• 4 inside on concrete floor
• 4 outside on dirt
• 4 are characterized (dirt type, moisture
  content, and amount of material particle size
  analysis)
• Take 1 bale for characterization of baling behind
  combine

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Data Collected During Storage

• For each bale
• Area of field required
• Labor to bale
• Weight
• Moisture content
• Field notes
• Pattern of traffic
• Type and amount of material remaining

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Data Collected During Storage

• Initial moisture content using coring device, and
  monthly thereafter
• Measure center bale temperature daily until
  stable during storage, weekly thereafter
• Monthly weights

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Issues

• Plant population recorded, but expected to
  heavily influence biomass yield
• Direction of combine relative to mower or
  discbine
• Particle/weight/density distribution
• Would it be desirable to cut pieces up finer
  (rotary mower vs discbine)
• Amount of dirt
• Proper moisture content for baling and storage

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Future Work

• Record path of equipment (combine, grain carts)
  using GPS during harvest
• Determine plant population at harvest
• Precision collection of biomass
• Use yield map to select areas for stover
  collection
• Avoid removal of stover from environmentally
  sensitive areas
• Collect highest value components

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Distribution of Mass in Plant Components
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Biomass of Individual Stalks Versus Dry Basis
Corn Mass
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Background

• Numerous researchers have investigated collection
  of stover (Loewer et al., 1984 and Ritchey et
  al., 1982)
• 30 of stover round baled
• Dry matter losses of 10 of stover baled at 13.9
  and 22.6 for stover at 33.4

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Background

• Cundiff and Marsh (1996) found that harvest and
  storage costs for large round bales was 23 less
  than square bales