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Laboratory studies on the effect of potassium carbonate solution on the drying of cut forage
Author(s) -
JONES L.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
grass and forage science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1365-2494
pISSN - 0142-5242
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1991.tb02217.x
Subject(s) - forage , potassium carbonate , potassium , legume , humidity , relative humidity , agronomy , chemistry , carbonate , biology , horticulture , physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
The potential drying rate of cut forage grasses and legumes, following treatment with a 2% potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3 ) solution, were compared with those of untreated crops under laboratory conditions. Material was fully exposed to a flow of conditioned air (20°C; 50% relative humidity). Treatment with K 2 CO 3 had little effect on the drying rate of a range of cultivated grass species. The drying of legume species, particularly lucerne was accelerated. The average reduction in lucerne drying time, following K 2 CO 3 treatment, was 63% and was similar for a range of varieties. The differential drying of lucerne leaf and stem fractions was reduced following treatment, and reduced further by selective treatment of the stem. Potassium carbonate treatment was superior to traditional mechanical conditioning for accelerating water loss from cut lucerne. The practical implications are discussed.