Production of alfalfa hay under different drying methods

Abstract

This trial aimed at determining the dehydration curve at nine times (0, 3, 6, 9, 24, 27, 30, 33 and 46 hours after cuting of the plants); the leaf/stem ratio and number of leaves per stem in alfalfa submitted to four managements during the drying process. It was also evaluated the bromatologic composition and in vitro digestibility of the dry matter and cell wall of alfalfa hay before storage. The drying methods applied for alfalfa were the following: drying in the field until 50% DM and drying conclusion in an airy shed; drying in the field without turning; drying with only one turning and drying with two turnings. The experimental design was completely randomized with four drying methods and five replications. Leaf dehydration was faster when compared to the stems in all drying methods. Drying in the shed promoted the lesser re-hydration of the plants at night due to dew. It was also verified that alfalfa hays that remained under the sun and were turned showed the worst quality with reduction in crude protein contents and increase in NDF, ADF, NDIN and ADIN. However, in vitro dry matter digestibility and cell wall digestibility did not suffer any alteration because of the different dehydration methods (69.79 and 41.39%, respectively). There is a market fall of leaves and a reduction on the number of leaves per stem with the turnings.

Changes in Tifton 85 bermudagrass hay storage in the field or under shed

“…This decrease in DM was due to the accumulation of dew overnight and has been observed in other studies under similar conditions (Neres et al, 2010).…”

Alterações no feno de campim tifton 85 armazenado à campo ou galpão coberto

“…During dehydration, the DM contents adjusted the third-degree polynomial regression model (Y= 282,24+15,86x-0,20x²+0,0009x³; R²= 0,86; CV (%)= 12,16) due to a sharp drop that occurred in the DM content sampling conducted at 8:00 of the second day of dehydration. This decrease in DM was due to the accumulation of dew overnight and has been observed in other studies under similar conditions (Neres et al, 2010).…”

Salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria enhanced salinity tolerance of salt-tolerant alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars at high salinity

“…Plants dry weight, height, and leaf number were measured at two harvests and after 10% starting flowering. Dry weight was measured by lab balance and expressed as a dry weight per plant after cutting the whole plants and drying in an oven at 55 °C for 72 h (Neres et al 2010…”