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Two different hay harvesting machines:a disk mower and a
mower conditioner were tested. The tests were run at the Research and Training Farm of Agricultural College of Tehran University, Karaj, Iran
Alfalfa , in Karaj and its vicinity is produced by irrigation farrning.The objective was cost estimations under 8 Km operating
speed.
Although it was decided to have three cuts;each of which to be mowed at a different level for every machine,but due to unforeseable -
problems ,only one cut and at one speed level,8Km/hr was possible. Moisture content determination was Iclnored.because of a week of - alternative raining which started immediately after the work was
finished. However,the results which were obtained from this test, revealed some very valuable guidelines for the future experiments
The results follows .The disk mower performance, with its 165 cm total cutting width ,was 0.65 ha/hr.The mower conditioner With its 221 cm
total cutting width was about 0.70 ha/hr.
For the Karaj area, one need not to rake after mowing with mower conditioner, but rather bale if necessaru.
At least one raking operation is needed after mowing with disk mower.
Costs of mowing alfalfa with the mower conditioner was etima ted to 1848 Rials/ha (about 10.69 Dollars/acre) ,while that of disk mower including the expenses for one raking operation run to i750 Rials/ha (about 10.12 Dollars/acre) .Hand mowing at present t:ime costs about 4000 Rials (about 23.14 Dollars/acre)
It was observed that the disk mower pulveri zes the material to some extent. Also that ,loss of material due to baling for disk mower was more than that for the mower conditionerdvantages and disadvatages of the machines are discussed.