The drying rates of component parts of inflorescence‐bearing tillers of Italian ryegrass

Abstract

AbstractInflorescence‐bearing tillers of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum cv. RvP) were dried in controlled temperature, relative humidity and air speed conditions chosen to be within the range likely to occur in a hay swath drying in the field. After drying for increasing intervals the tillers were separated into inflorescence, exposed flowering stem, leaf‐laminae, leaf‐sheath and flowering stem enclosed by leaf‐sheath and the drying rates of these components in addition to that of whole tillers were measured. There were large differences in drying rate between components, but the differences were similar over the range of drying conditions employed. The drying rate of the inflorescence as well as that of stem enclosed by leaf‐sheath was found to be very low and that of leaf‐laminae and leaf‐sheath very high.