THE USE OF ROLL-CONDITIONING AND POTASSIUM CARBONATE (K2CO3) TO INCREASE THE DRYING RATE OF LUCERNE (MEDICAGO-SATIVA L)

Mechanical and chemical treatments to accelerate the drying of cut luc erne were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Plant material was tr eated with a 0.16 M solution of potassium carbonate (K2Co3) and/or lig htly pressed between a pair of smooth rollers (roll-conditioning). Dry ing times to 33% moisture content (MC), expressed on a dry weight basi s (dwb), were reduced by 49% by roll-conditioning. 76% by K2CO3) treat ment and 77% by the combined K2CO3 + roll-conditioning treatment. The main benefit from combining the two forms of treatment was an improved uniformity of drying; when whole shoots were at 61% MC (dwb) the diff erence between leaf and stem moisture contents was reduced by 28% (rol l-conditioning). 38% (K2CO3) and 54% (K2CO3 + roll-conditioning) relat ive to the untreated control.