POWER REQUIREMENTS AND BALE CHARACTERISTICS FOR A FIXED AND A VARIABLE CHAMBER BALER

A variable-chamber baler (VCB) and a fixed-chamber baler (FCB) were co mpared with respect to power requirements, field capacity, and bale ma ss. The fixed-chamber baler was operated with and without a coarse cut ting mechanism (FCB/C and FCB, respectively). Average PTO power requir ements were similar(10 to 15 kW) but peak power requirements were cons iderably greater with the FCB (38 kW) and the FCB/C (42 kW) than with the VCB (15 kW). The VCB had a material flow of 4.1 tonne of dry matte r (DM) per hour (t/h) compared to 4.8 and 4.6 t/h with the FCB and FCB /C respectively. Bale dry matter mass was not affected by baler type n or by cutting and averaged 263 kg for a standard 1.22 m wide by 1.22 m diameter bale. Bale dry matter density varied, however, between 152 a nd 192 kg/m(3) because of variations in material flow and moisture. Fo rage chopped with the FCB/C had an average length of cut of 150 mm.