Evaporation-based drying rate of forage: effects of desiccants and crop density

Abstract

SUMMARYThe application of chemical desiccants to lucerne and red clover after cutting is studied from the standpoint of increasing the drying rate in relation to pan evaporation. Significant increases in the evaporation-based drying constant are found on both first and second cuttings of these crops, but the savings of a full day's drying time is expected only for second-cut lucerne in the north-eastern U.S. climate. The effect of crop density on drying rate is also studied. In conjunction with a theoretical analysis, it is determined that the drying constant varies as γ-0.65, where γ is the areal density. The evaporation-based drying constant is then related to crop yield and the ratio of cutting width to windrow width.