3. Results
3.1. Performance of the collection machines
The performance of the collection machines differed greatly in
the density of bales, collection capacity, rice straw loss in the field,
and diesel consumption (Table 3). Except for loose straw obtained
from the gathering machine, straw roller-bales collected by the
other baler machines had almost the same length of 70 cm. This
could be attributed to the machines having the same length of
roller-chambers. The specific weight ofthe roller-bales ranged from
73 to 104 kg m−3 at an MC of 12.4 (±1.21)% (MC of rice straw was
slightly reduced after baling). Collection capacity ranged from 0.87
to 2.47 t h−1. Rice straw loss in the field (which remained in the field after collection) was very different and ranged from 18 to 43%.
Diesel consumption ranged from 4.2 to 11.9 L t−1.