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Effect of Drying Methods on Losses of Carbon, Nitrogen and Dry Matter from Alfalfa¹

Methods of drying forage samples were examined for their influence on the total C, N, and dry matter (DM) content of ‘Ranger’ alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Forage samples were freeze-dried; air-dried in perforated paper bags and on trays; dried in perforated paper bags in mechanical convection ovens at 60, 80, and 100 C; and oven-dried at 100 C for 90 minutes followed by drying at 60 C, or by air-drying. All treatments were terminated after 48 hours.

Losses in C and N were measured by changes in C:K and N:K ratios. The DM losses were measured by changes in K concentration. Carbon and DM were lost more readily than N by either respiratory or thermochemical processes. These losses resulted in an apparent concentration of N in all forage dried between ambient and 100 C. All treatments, when compared to freeze-drying, resulted in losses of C and DM. The greatest loss of DM, 5A% occurred in samples dried at 100 C. Oven-drying at 100 C for 90 minutes followed by air-drying caused IDM losses of only 0.2%. Significant differences in actual N content between the various drying methods were not generally observed.

Key Words: freeze-drying • oven-drying • lyophilization • potassium

² Research Soil Scientist, Snake River Conservation Research Center, Kimberly, Idaho 83341.

Received for publication April 8, 1968.