Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T05:00:55.156Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of potassium carbonate solution on the drying of lucerne: 2. Field studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. N. Tullberg  and
D. J. Minson
J. N. Tullberg
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Queensland Agricultural College, Lawes 4345, Australia
D. J. Minson
Affiliation:
Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Cunningham Laboratory, C.S.I.R.O., St Lucia 4067, Australia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

In two field studies it was found that lucerne hay swaths sprayed with 3000 1/ha of 2% (w/w) aqueous potassium carbonate solution after cutting dried more rapidly than mechanically conditioned or control swaths; the ratio of drying rates being 2·17:1·43:1·00 respectively. Hay yields were increased in one of the two studies by the use of potassium carbonate.

The effect of different application rates was studied in a third trial using 200, 500 and 875 1/ha potassium carbonate solution, compared with mechanically conditioned and control swaths. After only 29 h of field exposure all swaths treated with potassium carbonate had dried to moisture contents below that required for baling (moisture: dry matter ratio < 0·3).

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 91 , Issue 3 , December 1978 , pp. 557 - 561
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bichoff, E. M., Kohler, G. O. & Smith, D. (1972). Chemical composition of herbage. In Alfalfa Science and Technology (ed. Hanson, C. H.), p. 272. No. 15 in series Agronomy. Madison, Wisconsin: American Society of Agronomy.Google Scholar
Kepner, R. A., Goss, J. R., Meyer, J. H. & Jones, L. G. (1960). Evaluation of hay conditioning effects. Agricultural Engineering 41, 229–304.Google Scholar
Shepherd, J. B., Wiseman, H. G., Ely, R. E., Melin, C. G., Sweetman, W. J., Gordon, C. H., Shoenleber, L. G., Wagner, R. E., Campbell, L. E., Roane, G. D. & Hosterman, W. H. (1954). Experiments in harvesting and preserving alfalfa for dairy cattle feed. Technical Bulletin United States Department of Agriculture, No. 1079.Google Scholar
Shepherd, W. (1958). Experimental methods in haymaking trials. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 9, 27–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shepherd, W. (1959). The susceptibility of hay species to mechanical damage. I. Effects of growing and curing conditions. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 10, 788–803.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tullberg, J. N. (1975). Studies of lucerne hay drying. Ph.D. thesis, University of Queensland.Google Scholar
Tullberg, J. N. & Angus, D. E. (1972). Increasing the drying rate of lucerne by the use of chemicals. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 38, 214–215.Google Scholar
Tullberg, J. N. & Angus, D. E. (1978). The effect of potassium carbonate solution on the drying of lucerne, 1. Laboratory studies. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 91, 551–556.CrossRefGoogle Scholar