Effect of water spraying on alfalfa hay before baling on the quantitative and qualitative losses of baled hay (case study in Fars province)

Afzalinia, Sadegh; Boostani, Alidad; Karimi, Abdolhamid; Mohammadi, Dadgar; Alavimanesh, Seiid Mansur; Zare, Mashaallah; Nouroozi, Ali

doi:10.22092/amsr.2023.362561.1455

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering Research, Fars Research and Education Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, AREEO, Shiraz, Iran.

² Department of Animal Science Research, Fars Research and Education Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, AREEO, Shiraz, Iran. P.O.Box:71555-617

³ Department of Animal Science Research, Fars Research and Education Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, AREEO, Shiraz, Iran. P.O.Box:71555-617.

⁴ Fars Research and Education Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources

⁵ Department of Agricultural Engineering Research, Fars Research and Education Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, AREEO, Shiraz, Iran

⁶ Education Center of Marvdasht, Fars Research and Education Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, AREEO, Shiraz, Iran. P.O.Box:71555-617.

10.22092/amsr.2023.362561.1455

Abstract

In this research, effects of water sprayed over the upper layer of the mowed and rowed alfalfa (before baling) on quantitative and qualitative losses of alfalfa during baling process were evaluated. The study was conducted in the form of split plot experiment with 12 treatments and three replications from 2020 to 2022. Main plots were the amount of water sprayed on the alfalfa with four levels of water (0, 250, 350, and 450 liters per hectare). Subplots were the time interval between spraying water on alfalfa and baling operation (0, 30, and 60 minutes after spraying water). Alfalfa losses at the baler pickup and compression chamber, during transportation, and total losses were measured. Alfalfa dry matter, crude protein, fat, organic matter, ash, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber was measured, and amount of aflatoxin were also detected after six months of storage. Results showed that spraying 450 L water per hectare decreased alfalfa losses at baler pickup and compression chamber, transportation, and total losses by 20.4, 34.3, 4.7, and 21.1% respectively, compared to the control treatment. Time interval between spraying water on alfalfa and baling time had no significant effect on alfalfa losses during baling operation and transportation. Results also indicated that spraying water on alfalfa before baling operation had no significant negative effects on alfalfa quality after six months storing and did not reduce alfalfa quality during storing time.

Keywords

References

Afzalinia, S., & Karimi, A. H. (2018). Baled alfalfa losses, nutrient values, and storability affected by bale density and alfalfa moisture content. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research, 4(6), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJAAR/2018/41724.

Afzalinia, S., Masoumi, A., Karimi, A. H., & Mohammadi, D. (2012). Bale density and moisture content effects on the losses of baled alfalfa. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, USA, 2, 667-672.

Ahmadi, K., Ebadzadeh, H. M., Hatami, F., Abdshah, H., & Kazemian, A. (2019). Agricultural statistics of 2017-2018 growing season, Vol. 1, Crops and horticulture products. Information and Technology Office of Jehad-e-Agriculture Ministry, Tehran, Iran. (in Persian)

Al-Gaadi, K. A. (2018). Impact of raking and baling patterns on alfalfa hay dry matter and quality losses. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 25, 1040-1048. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.02.009.

Anderson, M. J., & Mickelsen, C. H. (1973). Spraying alfalfa hay with water before baling to minimize harvesting losses. Agronomy Journal, 65(4), 662-664. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1973.00021962006500040040x.

Anon. (2001). S358.2-Moisture measurement-forage. ASAE Standards, 47^th Ed. 579. St. Joseph, Mich. ASAE.

Buckmaster, D. R., Rotz, C. A. & Black, J. R. (1990). Value of alfalfa losses on dairy farms. Transactions of the ASAE, 33(2), 351- 360. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.31337.

Horwitz, W. (2000). Official methods of analysis of the association of official analytical chemist. 17^th Ed. Association Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, DC, USA.

Masoumi, A. Rezaei, H. & Sadeghi, M. (2011). Effect of alfalfa fluffers on drying rate, baling loss, and nutrient value of alfalfa during baling. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 12(4), 103-114. https://doi.org/10.22092/jaer.2012.100337. (in Persian)

Nelson, L. F. (1968). Spontaneous heating, gross energy retention and nutrient retention of high- density alfalfa hay. Transactions of the ASAE, 11(3), 595- 600. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.39476.

Orloff, S. B. (1988). Artificial dew to improve baling: Can you beat Mother Nature? Proceedings of the 18^th California Alfalfa Symposium, Dec. 7–8, Modesto, CA.

Orloff, B., Carlson, H. L., & Teuber, L. R. (1997). Intermountain alfalfa management. University of California, Oakland, California.

Rotz, C. A., & Abrams, S. M. (1988). Losses and quality changes during alfalfa hay harvest and storage. Transactions of the ASAE, 31(2), 350-355. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.30713.

Shinners, K. J., & Schlesser, W. M. (2014). Reducing baler losses in arid climates by steam re-hydration. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 30(1), 11-16. https://doi.org/10.13031/aea.30.10115.

Taimoornejad, N. (2000). Nutritive value of fruit and vegetable wastes using in vivo, in vitro, and in situ methods in ruminants (M. Sc. Thesis), Islamic Azad University of Karaj, Karaj, Iran. (in Persian)

Agricultural Mechanization and Systems Research

Effect of water spraying on alfalfa hay before baling on the quantitative and qualitative losses of baled hay (case study in Fars province)

References

References

Volume 24, Issue 85 - Serial Number 85
May 2023
Pages 39-56

Effect of water spraying on alfalfa hay before baling on the quantitative and qualitative losses of baled hay (case study in Fars province)

References

References

Volume 24, Issue 85 - Serial Number 85May 2023Pages 39-56

Volume 24, Issue 85 - Serial Number 85
May 2023
Pages 39-56