Field evaluation assessment of mechanized corn residues harvesters to feed livestock

Farmers in our country, usually after harvesting corn, face residual problems. These residues are controlled by burning, grazing, and partially taking out of the farm. There are also remnants of residues after the conventional tillage method and common problems (most seeds usage) for the next crop (usually wheat). Therefore, research was performed to choose the proper method of mechanized residue harvesting and determine the nutritional value of residues to feed animal husbandry. To achieve the objectives, the research was performed with harvesting method treatment and the yield of harvested residues and their botanical yield. Then the following features were measured by harvested residue in the laboratory: dry matter, chemical ingredients (including Crud Protein, Ash, NDF, ADF, Lignin …), physical decay (the weight), digestibility, and moisture content in different parts of corn residues (stems, leaves, and stubble). Combined analysis of results showed stalk puller and mower were taken the first rank by harvesting 6994.2 & 6426.2 kg/ha residue, respectively, but stem shredder was placed on next rank with 2362.4 kg/ha. Most stalks were harvested using a stalk puller machine and ranked first; mower and stem shredder were in the following classes. Finally, the highest field capacity was for the stalk puller (0.86 ha/h), and mower and stem Shredders (0.54 & 0.43 ha/h) were in the following classes.  Combined analysis of qualitative results shows crude protein and metabolizable energy of harvested residues were high using stalk puller, mower, and stem shredder (359.5, 311.4 &141.4 kg/ha) and 18996.7, 16841.7 & 9569.6 Mcal/ha, respectively positioned in first-class. A combined analysis of nutritious substance performance results based on botanical division shows that yield of leaves higher than stems, and stems are higher than stubbles. Therefore, the stalk puller machine was chosen as the most suitable machine performance than the other residue harvesting machines with 99% significant confidence.