Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW.

Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGWAgriculture No 52 (Agricultural and Forest Engineering) 2008: 23–30(Ann. Warsaw Univ. of Life Sci. – SGGW, Agricult. 52, 2008)Methods for evaluation of breaking up of maize chaff separatedon the sieve separatorALEKSANDR LISOWSKI, KRZYSZTOF ŚWIĄTEK, KRZYSZTOF KOSTYRA,JAROSŁAW CHLEBOWSKIDepartment of Agricultural and Forest Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW,Warsaw, PolandAbstract: Methods for evaluation of breaking upof maize chaff separated on the sieve separator.The work aimed at determination of breakingup degree of maize chaff and grain with the useof the sieve separator, fabricated according toANSI/ASAE S424.1 Standard, and at comparisonof the methods for evaluation of chaff particlelength distribution. As the quality indices ofevaluation of maize breaking up degree therewere taken: geometric mean of chaff length,standard deviation of length and index of maizegrain breaking up. These indices were determinedon the basis of mass distribution. The threevarieties of maize plants were investigated: SAN,LG2244 and REDUTA of moisture content 62.8,59.4 and 63.2%, respectively, harvested with twoself-propelled forage harvesters. It was found thatthe chaff length ranged from 7.82 to 12.92 mm,depending on forage harvester used and maizevariety. The ANSI/ASAE S424.1 method fordetermination of geometric mean of chaff lengthwas verified with the use of Rosin-Rammlermodel, by calculating hypothetical dimensionof sieve mesh, which passed through a half ofmaterial being sifted. The obtained results provedusability of both the methods for determination ofthe chaff length distribution.Key words: breaking up, sieve separator, chaffdistribution, method.INTRODUCTIONMaize silage is a basic feed used in nongrazingfeeding of cattle. To achieve thebest feeding results, the maize must beproperly broken up prior to ensilaging(Michalski 1997). As it is evident frommany research findings, in order to ensurebetter absorption of particular nutrientsone should try to get short chaff andhighest degree of maize grain breaking up.The forage harvesters equipped with thedrum chopping unit combine the optimalbreaking up of maize plants and grainduring harvesting. The sieve separator(analyzer) can be used in evaluation ofchaff particle length and uniformity aswell as maize grain breaking up degree.The work aimed at determination ofbreaking up degree of maize chaff and grainwith the use of sieve separator fabricatedaccording to own technical documentationand ANSI/ASAE S424.1 Standard, andalso at comparison of the methods forevaluation chaff length distribution.As the quality indices of evaluationof maize breaking up degree there weretaken: geometric mean of chaff length,standard deviation of length and index ofmaize grain breaking up. These indiceswere determined on the basis of massdistribution.MATERIAL AND METHODSAnalysis of breaking up was executedfor three maize varieties: SAN, LG2244and REDUTA of moisture content