Aspects of non-grain part harvesting for corn and sunflower as solid biofuels

Purpose. Identification of promising technologies for harvesting the non-cereal part of the corn and sunflower crops, which provide for the controlled collection of quality products in accordance with the needs. Methods. Analysis of common technological processes of harvesting straw and stem feed, the non-grain part of the corn and sunflower harvest, the synthesis of options for harvesting individual parts of the non-grain part of the corn and sunflower crop and evaluating them by the possible harvest, experimental determination of the full harvest for a particular process. Results. Synthesized and analyzed options for harvesting the non-cereal part of the corn and sunflower crops, which can be used in modern agricultural production. The analysis of the non-cereal part of the corn and sunflower harvest was carried out. The proportion of the non-cereal part of the corn and sunflower crops, which can be collected with various harvesting options, has been established. Experimental studies have been carried out of individual operations of collecting the non-grain part of the corn and sunflower crops. Conclusions. Harvesting the stem mass in a compacted form (rolls, bales) for energy needs is more appropriate than in loose form. Farms that grow corn and sunflower choose the technology of harvesting the non-cereal part of the crop, depending on the area of sowing of crops and needs in the stem mass. The investigated options for harvesting the non-cereal part of the crop provide a complete collection of the stem mass from 3.5 to 85.4%. The final choice of the option of harvesting raw materials is determined not only by the completeness of the collection of raw materials, but also by its technical and economic indicators. Keywords: non-cereal part of corn and sunflower harvest, technology of harvesting non-cereal part, solid biofuel.