Comparison of large square bale handling options

Large square bales currently hold great potential for harvesting and storing herbaceous biomass feedstocks. Large square bales have many advantages over both small square bale and round bale counterparts as well as other possible harvest methods. However, high cost is still a main roadblock of supplying baled biomass feedstocks. Bales production includes windrow preparation operations, baling, bale collection and storage, and on-farm bale handling. Thoroughly understanding the capacity of current technology and equipment is essential for biomass industries. Quantifying factors that affect large square bale production and handling logistics was the focus of this research. The large square bale handling capability was studied at commercial farms. Bale compression and associated operations were also studied. Results indicated that large square bale field handling could be managed in a high efficient way if the material capacity of each field machine was known. If only one large square baler was used, the maximum capacity of harvesting bales was 340 bales in an 8-hour period. Other associated field machines have at least doubled capacity compared to the baler. Increasing number of large square baler could double the harvesting efficiency, but machinery investment cost would be a concern. Bales could be compressed to reduce storage facility needs. Again, the machinery cost could limit the application of bale compression.