Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Harvested with a Modified Flail Chopper
The leaves of alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) are a valuable source of protein, and the stems a source of fiber. Harvest methods are sought that would allow separation of different plant fractions for agricultural or industrial functions. A solution is proposed, consisting of collect...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/5/690 |
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| author | Jadwiga Andrzejewska Stanisław Ignaczak Kenneth A. Albrecht |
| author_facet | Jadwiga Andrzejewska Stanisław Ignaczak Kenneth A. Albrecht |
| author_sort | Jadwiga Andrzejewska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The leaves of alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) are a valuable source of protein, and the stems a source of fiber. Harvest methods are sought that would allow separation of different plant fractions for agricultural or industrial functions. A solution is proposed, consisting of collecting leaves together with upper, fine stem fragments, while leaving most of the stem standing in the field. For this purpose, a modified flail chopper (MFC), typically used for harvesting green forage, was employed. The objective of this study was to assess the forage value of alfalfa biomass harvested at various development stages using an MFC, and stem stubble remaining after harvest. Alfalfa was harvested with a sickle-bar mower or MFC in the first and second cuts at bud, early flower and late flower stages of development. Using the MFC, 60% to 74% of the potential dry matter yield of alfalfa was harvested, in which the proportion of leaves was, on average, 22% greater than the proportion of leaves in forage harvested with a mower. Crude protein concentration was, on average, 16% greater and neutral detergent fiber concentration 13% less in alfalfa harvested with the MFC than with a mower. In alfalfa harvested with the MFC at early flower, crude protein concentration and in vitro true digestibility were similar or greater than, with neutral and acid detergent fiber at a similar or lower level as in forage harvested with a mower at bud stage. The forage nutritive value of alfalfa harvested with an MFC at late flower was similar to the forage value of alfalfa cut with a mower at early flower. The chemical composition of the 20 to 50 cm tall residual stubble was affected little by plant maturity or harvest method, and the quality parameters also indicate the possibility of its forage use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:52:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0618888d17544a24b81d217056793cd8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:52:08Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-0618888d17544a24b81d217056793cd82023-11-20T00:16:48ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-05-0110569010.3390/agronomy10050690Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Harvested with a Modified Flail ChopperJadwiga Andrzejewska0Stanisław Ignaczak1Kenneth A. Albrecht2Department of Agronomy, University of Science and Technology, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, PolandDepartment of Agronomy, University of Science and Technology, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, PolandDepartment of Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USAThe leaves of alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) are a valuable source of protein, and the stems a source of fiber. Harvest methods are sought that would allow separation of different plant fractions for agricultural or industrial functions. A solution is proposed, consisting of collecting leaves together with upper, fine stem fragments, while leaving most of the stem standing in the field. For this purpose, a modified flail chopper (MFC), typically used for harvesting green forage, was employed. The objective of this study was to assess the forage value of alfalfa biomass harvested at various development stages using an MFC, and stem stubble remaining after harvest. Alfalfa was harvested with a sickle-bar mower or MFC in the first and second cuts at bud, early flower and late flower stages of development. Using the MFC, 60% to 74% of the potential dry matter yield of alfalfa was harvested, in which the proportion of leaves was, on average, 22% greater than the proportion of leaves in forage harvested with a mower. Crude protein concentration was, on average, 16% greater and neutral detergent fiber concentration 13% less in alfalfa harvested with the MFC than with a mower. In alfalfa harvested with the MFC at early flower, crude protein concentration and in vitro true digestibility were similar or greater than, with neutral and acid detergent fiber at a similar or lower level as in forage harvested with a mower at bud stage. The forage nutritive value of alfalfa harvested with an MFC at late flower was similar to the forage value of alfalfa cut with a mower at early flower. The chemical composition of the 20 to 50 cm tall residual stubble was affected little by plant maturity or harvest method, and the quality parameters also indicate the possibility of its forage use.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/5/690<i>Medicago sativa</i>flail chopperleaf harvestforage nutritive value |
| spellingShingle | Jadwiga Andrzejewska Stanisław Ignaczak Kenneth A. Albrecht Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Harvested with a Modified Flail Chopper Agronomy <i>Medicago sativa</i> flail chopper leaf harvest forage nutritive value |
| title | Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Harvested with a Modified Flail Chopper |
| title_full | Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Harvested with a Modified Flail Chopper |
| title_fullStr | Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Harvested with a Modified Flail Chopper |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Harvested with a Modified Flail Chopper |
| title_short | Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Harvested with a Modified Flail Chopper |
| title_sort | nutritive value of alfalfa harvested with a modified flail chopper |
| topic | <i>Medicago sativa</i> flail chopper leaf harvest forage nutritive value |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/5/690 |
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