AN INNOVATIVE SYSTEM FOR CONDITIONING BIOMASS SORGHUM [SORGHUM BICOLOR (L.) MOENCH.]

One of the main constraints hindering the cultivation of fiber sorghum, which produces a substantial amount of fermentable biomass, is the lack of an efficient harvesting method. The anatomical structure of the fiber sorghum plant makes conditioning the plants difficult, resulting in increased losses, diminished product quality, and increased harvesting costs. The purpose of this study is to investigate an alternate harvesting method to improve the shelf life of sorghum biomass and thereby reduce the costs of harvesting sorghum. A prototype of a rear tractor-mounted mower-conditioner was designed, built, and tested over two years (2007-2008). The machine was able to mow and vigorously condition each plant in separated single rows. The conditioner consisted of two counter-rotating rollers placed lengthwise in a forward direction, which fractured and crushed the stalks, providing a remarkable improvement in work quality compared with current methods. The prototype achieved a significant reduction in drying times compared to other systems and extended the harvest window, thus eliminating one of the main obstacles to a wider cultivation of fiber sorghum.