Alfalfa is an important legume culture, which plays an important role in ruminant nutrition, as well as quality fodder. Intensive production of alfalfa involves the use of appropriate mechanization, i.e. the mower, keeping in mind that the cutting is the first operation in the preparation technology of forage. Mowing must be done in an optimal agrotechnical term, because it reduces the negative impact of external factors and can be done a variety of mowers. The quality of mower is reflected in terms of height stem cutting cutter bar, the amount of losses caused by cutting and grinding, the total losses, efficiency of work procedures in relation to the structural surface and the resulting effect. Quality of work depends on several factors: state of crops, defining of relevant operation parameters, technical accuracy and staff skills. When the relevant parameters are not well coordinated, quality can significantly decrease, resulting in increased losses and poor quality work. The aim of our study was to determine the technical and technological indicators, quality of work achieved and the effects of four types of mowers in the defined modes. Classical oscillatory mower with fingers, standard design oscillatory two rod mower, drum rotary mower and five discs rotary mower were studied. The test method is derived from test objectives. Tests were done in two phases. In the first phase, there were determined work conditions: biological yield, crop characteristics, the average height of alfalfa, the presence of weeds, the condition of the terrain, climatic conditions, while the second phase determined the effects of work depending on the conditions. It was determined a cutting height, the losses during mowing, operating speed, realised effects. Based on the results of the effects of mower different with cutter bar in mowing alfalfa, it was concluded that the changes defined parameters demonstrated a statistically significant impact on the effects of work in all the mower. The lowest cutting height was recorded at the two rod mowers and was 4.52 cm (6.17 km h -1 ) and the highest was at the five discs rotary  mower with 8.15 (11.35 km h -1 ). The smallest losses due to the cut height were in conventional mowers and the highest losses were in mowing with the five discs rotary mower and were 2.99% of yield. Total losses were varied in the range of 1.05 to 3.56% of the biological yield.

: mower,losses, cut height, achieved performance

Presentation: oral