Baling sugarcane tops and leaves : the Thai experience

The report begins with a chapter that reviews the studies and events that led up to the trial year, beginning with a 1986 report on the prospects of electric power from cane residues in Thailand and culminating with a work plan outlining the specific objectives and responsibilities for the trial year. Chapter 2 focuses on the trial year itself. It begins with a summary of how the trial year activities were conducted and includes sections on the performance of the baling equipment, bale collection, and transportation operations, and concludes with the lessons learned. The analysis in this chapter compares the technical performance and cost effectiveness of round versus square balers. However, neither one is clearly superior in terms of either of these two criteria. This report does not address bale storage or processing of bales for feeding into existing bagasse boilers. In Chapter 3 some future work is outlined. The Nong Yai Sugar Mill has requested and received permission from the Ministry of Industry to use the equipment on their own during the 1990-91 crushing season. The projected costs and benefits of the proposed operations are reviewed. Also included are discussions of the replicability of these operations in other areas and a program for further examining the agronomic impacts of cane trash harvesting operations. (Author abstract, modified)