Harvesting System Design and Performance - Engineering and Science of Biomass Feedstock Production and Provision - page 113

Fig. 5.30 ( a )Cross-sectionofthecuttingandshreddingmechanismsforwillowstems.( b )Cutter-
shredder baler cutting and baling willow stems. Adapted from [ 26 ]
The energy cane stems are thinner and taller compared to sugar cane, but they pos-
sess higher lodging resistance. It is widely believed that sugar cane harvesting
machinery can be adapted for energy cane harvesting with some modifications.
There are several sugar cane harvesting methods, each having their own set of
advantages and disadvantages (Table 5.4 ). Some developing countries still practice
manual harvesting of sugar cane in varying proportion, whereas most of the devel-
oped nations practice mechanical harvesting of sugar cane. Mechanical harvesting
increases soil compaction and also ash content as the harvested produce can be con-
taminated with soil dirt picked up through the harvesting process. A schematic of
different harvest and transport options for green energy crops is shown in Fig. 5.31 .