Feasibility Studies on Semi-mechanized Harvesting Machines for Small Fodder Production Farms

Fodder harvesting is an energy intensive operation that needs timely completion for its proper utilization and maintaining quality. Multi-cut variety of fodder needs manifold energy application during harvesting season of fodder. Suitable machinery is required, especially in case of small fodder production farms that can ease the operation of fodder harvesting and complete the job in time with comparatively low cost of operation. With this point of view, suitable machines for small fodder production farms discussed here are i) Tractor operated cutter bar type fodder harvester ii) Engine operated riding type fodder harvester and iii) Hand held engine operated grass cutter used as fodder harvester. These machines were tested for harvesting fodder crops namely berseem, natural grass, guinea grass, sorghum and oats. Tractor operated fodder harvester was found suitable for harvesting both small (<1m height) and tall (>1m height) fodder crops whereas engine operated riding type fodder harvester harvested only small height crops. Hand held engine operated grass cutter was suitable for harvesting fodder on bunds, waterways and fields where tractor or engine operated machine cannot run. Effective field capacity obtained for harvesting berseem was 0.38 ha/h with tractor operated cutter bar; 0.52 ha/h with engine operated fodder harvester and 0.13 ha/h with hand held engine operated grass cutter used as fodder harvester. These machines harvested and left the crop either at its place or in a windrow. Collection of harvested fodder and filling in to the trolley were done manually. So, this process is semi-mechanized harvesting. All of these machines provide a comparatively low cost fodder harvesting solution for small fodder production farms and provide benefit in time and costs of harvesting compared to manual harvesting.