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Use of leaf enriching harvesting methods to increase the yield of leaf protein concentrate from lucerne
Author(s) -
Edwards Richard H.,
Knuckles Benny E.,
Miller Raymond E.,
Currence David H.,
De Fremery Donald,
Kohler George O.
Publication year - 1979
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.2740300603
Subject(s) - tops , forage , agronomy , yield (engineering) , biology , extraction (chemistry) , fraction (chemistry) , chemistry , materials science , chromatography , spinning , polymer chemistry , metallurgy
A prototype leaf stripping machine and a conventional forage harvester with a raised header were used to obtain high protein lucerne (alfalfa) fractions. The stripped lucerne leaves and lucerne tops contained 26.2 and 27.2% protein, respectively. Pilot‐scale extraction of the ground leaves and the ground tops resulted in leaf protein concentrate (LPC) yields of 18.8 and 20.0%, respectively, compared with 12.8 and 15.7% for the appropriate whole lucerne control. LPC yields as high as 27.4% were obtained by the addition of lucerne solubles to the lucerne tops prior to grinding. Low LPC yields (4.0–8.0%) were obtained from the lucerne stem fraction. After processing, the press cake fraction from the leaf‐enriched feed materials still contained over 17% protein.