Summary

The aim of this work is to determine exploitation characteristics and performance quality of the Inex-Lifam 60 field ensilage harvester in maize silage preparation. The harvester was combined with Rakovica-65 tractor during the ZP SC – 42A hybrid maize ensiling operation. The average yield was 30.34 t/ha at silage moisture of 68.77%. The combine harvester operated at a speed of 2,86-3,64 km/h with an efficiency of 11,23-16,34 t/h or 0.42-0,55 ha/h. At the lowest working speed 2,86 km/h, the harvester cause losses were 624 kg/ha or 2,34% at the cutting height, whereas at the higher speed of 3,64 km/h losses were 1340 kg/h or 4,85% total yield. Linearly with the working speed increase, the cutting height and hence the cutting height losses decreased. The harvester operated in a quality manner, it produced mass uniformly cut at the height below 15 mm, with broken corn cob and grain, being one of the conditions for the silage quality and harvester performance assessment.

          Key words: field ensilage harvester, performance quality, losses, efficiency.