The effect of organic phosphates on the drying rate of grass leaves and dry-matter losses during drying

Abstract

SummaryTri-w-butyl phosphate has previously been shown to increase the drying rate of cut grass leaves. It also markedly inhibited respiration and thus reduced loss of dry matter during drying. In the work reported here, some other commercially available phosphate esters were tested for the same effects, except for the inhibition of respiration. Four mixtures of ethoxylated phosphate esters increased the drying rate of excised S. 24 perennial ryegrass leaves, and three of these also reduced the loss of dry matter during drying.The results suggest the possibility of devising single chemical treatments for both increasing the drying rate and reducing the respiration rate of forage crops conserved by drying in the field. The potential advantages of such treatments, together with the difficulties of realizing these advantages in practice, are briefly discussed.