Consumo de combustível em colhedoras de arroz irrigado

Abstract

The constant search for information regarding the operational performance and energy consumption of self-propelled harvesters of grain is fundamental to the aid in the correct planning and management, due to the high capital invested, thus allowing the rationalization and optimization of the mechanized harvesting operation. In this sense, the objective of this work was to evaluate the fuel consumption of selfpropelled harvesters equipped with different track systems and displacement speeds in the irrigated rice harvesting operation. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Itaqui, RS, during the harvest period of the 2016/2017 harvest. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replicates. For the experiment, three harvesters equipped with a radial track system, hybrid and axial, were submitted to 5 displacement speeds 1,2; 1.6; 2.0; 2.4 and 2.8 km h-¹, respectively. The results show that there was a significant difference between fuel consumption in the different track systems of the harvesters as a function of the displacement speeds. Regarding the hourly consumption, an increase was observed as the displacement speed increased. When analyzing the fuel consumption per unit of product harvested and per harvested area, a reduction in consumption is observed due to the increase in the operational capacity due to the increase in the speed values. Therefore, increasing the speed provides greater harvesting operational capacity.