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Microwave drying of lucerne and grass samples
Author(s) -
Carlier L. A.,
van Hee L. P.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740220610
Subject(s) - microwave oven , dry matter , water content , moisture , microwave , fodder , chemistry , freeze drying , pasture , food science , organic matter , agronomy , chromatography , biology , physics , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , engineering
Microwave drying of fodder crop samples appeared to be a suitable technique, especially when the organic components are to be determined. Eleven lucerne and 17 pasture grass samples were dried by both oven drying at 80°c and microwave drying. The dry matter content of the samples dried by microwaves was 0·8% higher on average than that of the oven‐dried samples; the carotene and xanthophyll contents were almost twice as high in the samples dried by microwaves. The digestibility coefficient of the organic matter, determined in vitro, was 1·6 units lower on average in the oven‐dried samples; this was due partly to the higher crude fibre content and much lower content of soluble carbohydrates in these samples. There were no significant differences in the total ash and crude protein contents of the samples dried by the two methods. A 500 g sample of fresh grass can be dried in 10 min in the microwave energy apparatus; the moisture content of about 10% obtained after drying guarantees a good grinding and storage ability of the samples.