ศูนย์นวัตกรรมเทคโนโลยีหลังการเก็บเกี่ยว

Factors affecting bunker silo densities.

Muck, R. E. and Holmes, B. J.

Applied Engineering in Agriculture Year: 2000 Vol: 16 Issue: 6 Pages: 613-619.

2000

บทคัดย่อ

High densities in bunker silos minimize losses and reduce storage costs, however, the guidelines to attain high densities are based on relatively little research. The objective of this study was to determine the practices or factors most correlated with bunker silo density. Density was measured in 175 bunker silos across Wisconsin, USA, using core samples collected at chest height (1.13 m, 3.70 ft, on average) across the feed-out face. Silo filling practices were surveyed and correlated with density. Most silages sampled were lucerne or maize. Dry matter densities ranged from 106 to 434 kg/m3 (6.6 to 27.1 lb/ft3). The core densities were correlated with the height of silage above the core, indicating the effect of self-compaction. To adjust for this, all densities were corrected for the median depth below the surface (2.16 m or 7.09 ft). The adjusted dry matter densities were most strongly correlated with how thinly a load was spread (L), tractor weight (W), packing time per tonne as-fed (T), an

d dry matter content (D). These four factors were combined into a packing factor [W (TD)1/2 L-1] that explained 18.2% of the variation in dry matter density. Additional factors, such as the use of dual wheels, did not significantly improve the prediction of dry matter density. An equation was developed to predict the average density in a bunker silo based on the packing factor plus crop height in the silo.