Energy performance of a new biomass harvester for recovery of orchard wood wastes as alternative to mulching

Carla Nati, Martina Boschiero, Gianni Picchi, Giovanni Mastrolonardo, Markus Kelderer and Stefan Zerbe

Renewable Energy, 2018, vol. 124, issue C, 121-128

Abstract: Woody crops such as orchards and olive groves require annual pruning operations, which leave abundant residues on the ground. These must be removed both for disease control and for facilitating the following tending activities. The resulting biomass can be managed as a waste or a by-product, in both cases incurring in a cost for farmers. A harvester prototype for collecting and comminuting apple pruning residues was tested and compared to a traditional mulcher. In particular, the study aimed at: 1) quantifying productivity and costs of the two systems, 2) evaluating the possible influence of apple variety, tree age and machine type on the productivity per hectare, and 3) estimating and comparing the energy balance of the two working options.

Keywords: Apple orchards; Pruning residues; Biomass quality; Operational costs; Energy balance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:124:y:2018:i:c:p:121-128

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.07.030

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