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Increased drying rate of cut lucerne (alfalfa) with alkali metal carbonate solutions
Author(s) -
Johnson Timothy R.,
Thomas J. William
Publication year - 1983
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.2740340603
Subject(s) - rubidium , caesium , alkali metal , carbonate , potassium , chemistry , potassium carbonate , dry matter , lithium (medication) , sodium carbonate , sodium , water content , lithium carbonate , inorganic chemistry , agronomy , zoology , ionic bonding , biology , ion , geology , organic chemistry , geotechnical engineering , endocrinology
Spray treatment of cut lucerne (alfalfa) with 0.2m solutions containing carbonates of the alkali metal group increased mean dry matter content and drying rates above an untreated control. Dry matter content of lucerne sprayed with carbonates of caesium, rubidium or potassium was greater than that of lucerne treated with solutions containing sodium carbonate, lithium carbonate or left as untreated control, throughout the drying period. Drying rates at any given water content between 2.5 and 0.5 were also greatest for lucerne treated with solutions containing caesium, rubidium or potassium carbonate. Mean drying rate of lucerne sprayed with alkali metals was positively related to their ionic radius and increased from lithium to caesium.