Paweł Tylek

Fuel Consumption and Effectiveness of Elimination of Energy-crop Willow Plantation

Abstract The objective of the paper was to determine fuel consumption on elimination of the energy willow plantation with current mechanical methods with the use of the machine research model. The paper covers investigations of four machine units. The lowest fuel consumption (142.6 l∙ha−1) with the use of Meri Crusher MJS-2.0) did not ensure effectiveness of operation of this unit. Efficiency of elimination of the plantation in this case is only 36.4%. On the other hand, the highest consumption of diesel oil (776.4 l∙ha−1) was reported for FAO FAR model FV 4088, and the effectiveness of elimination was not satisfactory and it was 57.0%. The highest effectiveness of elimination of the plantation was reported for the model of a new machine. Fuel consumption in this case was 535.7 l∙ha−1 and the willow plantation elimination effectiveness was the highest and it amounted to 94.8%.

Work inputs and costs of eradication of energy willow plantation

Abstract The objective of the paper was to determine the work expenditures and costs of eradication of an energy willow plantation with currently applied mechanical methods and with the use of the test model of a machine for cutting willow rootstocks as a part of the scientific project no. PBS2/A8/26/2014. The scope of the paper covered research for four machine units constructed for a twelve-year willow plantation with the surface area of 3 ha. Work inputs for eradication of the plantation of the investigated aggregates were within 8.1 to 50.4 mhr ∙ ha-1. Work inputs with the new machine were 22.3 mhr ∙ ha-1. The level of work inputs was influenced by low working speeds of the tractor-machine unit and working speeds from 0.4 to 2.3 m. Costs of willow plantation eradication with current mechanical methods were from 4302 to 15536 PLN ∙ ha-1, and with the use of the new machine it was 5457 PLN ∙ ha-1.