Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Straw is undesirable plant part that is left in the field after harvesting. At present, the cost of straw gathering is increasing because of increased use of combine harvesters. High wages and scarcity of labour makes manual collection unfeasible. Farmers therefore often just burn it, which causes pollution, increased emission of greenhouse gases and loss of opportunities to value addition. In terms of greenhouse gases. An economic, environmental evaluation and field testing of straw baler with different crops with capacity of 4.8 and 4.16 ha per day for paddy and wheat crop respectively. During field testing data on field capacity, field efficiency, straw recovery, fuel consumption, cost of operation and energy consumption were collected as 0.6 ha h^-1, 91%, 92%, 3.5l h^-1 , ₹1672 per ha and 343.96 MJha^-1 for paddy and 0.52 hah^-1, 89%, 90%, 4 l h^-1 , ₹2012 per ha and 458.63 MJ ha^-1 for wheat respectively; whereas, the cost for manual gathering was ₹ 2332 and ₹2806 per ha for paddy and wheat straw respectively. The benefits of the machine are not only economical but also exclude the hazardous effects of burning of crop residues from environment.