APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, cilt.21, sa.3, ss.2731-2745, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
Disc mowers with conditioner (DC) and drum mowers (DR) are compared to reduce losses due to drying time in forage crop farming. Mowing methods affected the feed quality of the crop. High feed quality has been achieved in both methods, but the main difference was in the effects of the compared methods on productivity and final yield. In particular, the DC method achieved a higher area work efficiency and an economic harvest at the same rate; despite 17% lower energy consumption under the same conditions. In addition, the three-day advantage provided by the 38% lower crop moisture content in the first mow with the effect of the conditioning system increased even more with the impact of the precipitation in the following crops. The study obtained a 34% higher green feed yield in the DC method, which could increase profit by preventing quality losses.