Thermal dehydration of some forage grasses for livestock feeding: Effect of different methods on moisture diffusivity and the quality of dried leaves
The study investigates the influence of drying methods on the quality of Andropogon tectorum (Gamba grass) and Pennisetum puerperium (Elephant grass) forage grasses used for hay making in Africa. The aim is to establish the best drying conditions for the grasses for forage conservation in Africa and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Energy Nexus |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427122001115 |
| _version_ | 1811178593935425536 |
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| author | Victor Ejikeme Ihediwa Godwin Edem Akpan Leonard Akuwueke Linus Oriaku C．O Ndubuisi Jude Mbanasor Macmanus Chinenye Ndukwu |
| author_facet | Victor Ejikeme Ihediwa Godwin Edem Akpan Leonard Akuwueke Linus Oriaku C．O Ndubuisi Jude Mbanasor Macmanus Chinenye Ndukwu |
| author_sort | Victor Ejikeme Ihediwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study investigates the influence of drying methods on the quality of Andropogon tectorum (Gamba grass) and Pennisetum puerperium (Elephant grass) forage grasses used for hay making in Africa. The aim is to establish the best drying conditions for the grasses for forage conservation in Africa and the possible scaling up of the drying process for large-scale bale drying applications. Traditional sun drying, hot air oven and microwave drying methods were used. The average moisture diffusivity considering shrinkage for the two grasses varied from 5.71 × 10−09 to 2.67 × 10−08 m2/s at 40 -70 °C while for microwave drying varied from 9.06 × 10−6 to 1.08 × 10−05 W/g at 180 - 720 W. The activation energy ranged from 31.068 to 44.06 kJ/mol. Drying methods adopted significantly affected the nutrient content, colour, and rehydration ratio of the leaves. The optimization of crude fibre (%) yielded, a dry matter of 92.4%, drying temperature of 70 °C and crude fibre of 51.7%. In contrast optimization of drying in microwave gave drying power level of 360 W, 47.6% of crude fibre and 93.13% dry matter. Optimization of crude protein yielded a drying temperature, of 28.5 °C, dry matter of 39.8%, and crude protein of 10.8%. Similarly, crude protein of 11.03% was obtained at a drying power level of 59.5 W, with the dry matter of 49.50% value. All the optimization constraints set for maximizing nutrient content showed that crude fibre has the highest value. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:22:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c275d836aa4d46a8ba3133462a8ca902 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2772-4271 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T06:22:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Nexus |
| spelling | doaj.art-c275d836aa4d46a8ba3133462a8ca9022022-12-22T04:40:33ZengElsevierEnergy Nexus2772-42712022-12-018100156Thermal dehydration of some forage grasses for livestock feeding: Effect of different methods on moisture diffusivity and the quality of dried leavesVictor Ejikeme Ihediwa0Godwin Edem Akpan1Leonard Akuwueke2Linus Oriaku3C．O Ndubuisi4Jude Mbanasor5Macmanus Chinenye Ndukwu6Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B 7267 Umuahia, Abia State, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, P.M.B. 1167 Uyo, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B 7267 Umuahia, Abia State, NigeriaEngineering Research Unit National Root Crop Research Institute Umudike, Abia State, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural and Bio-environmental Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, NigeriaDepartment of Agribusiness, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B 7267 Umuahia, Abia State, NigeriaDepartment of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B 7267 Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria; Corresponding author.The study investigates the influence of drying methods on the quality of Andropogon tectorum (Gamba grass) and Pennisetum puerperium (Elephant grass) forage grasses used for hay making in Africa. The aim is to establish the best drying conditions for the grasses for forage conservation in Africa and the possible scaling up of the drying process for large-scale bale drying applications. Traditional sun drying, hot air oven and microwave drying methods were used. The average moisture diffusivity considering shrinkage for the two grasses varied from 5.71 × 10−09 to 2.67 × 10−08 m2/s at 40 -70 °C while for microwave drying varied from 9.06 × 10−6 to 1.08 × 10−05 W/g at 180 - 720 W. The activation energy ranged from 31.068 to 44.06 kJ/mol. Drying methods adopted significantly affected the nutrient content, colour, and rehydration ratio of the leaves. The optimization of crude fibre (%) yielded, a dry matter of 92.4%, drying temperature of 70 °C and crude fibre of 51.7%. In contrast optimization of drying in microwave gave drying power level of 360 W, 47.6% of crude fibre and 93.13% dry matter. Optimization of crude protein yielded a drying temperature, of 28.5 °C, dry matter of 39.8%, and crude protein of 10.8%. Similarly, crude protein of 11.03% was obtained at a drying power level of 59.5 W, with the dry matter of 49.50% value. All the optimization constraints set for maximizing nutrient content showed that crude fibre has the highest value.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427122001115CowsAnimal husbandryHerdsmenForage conservation |
| spellingShingle | Victor Ejikeme Ihediwa Godwin Edem Akpan Leonard Akuwueke Linus Oriaku C．O Ndubuisi Jude Mbanasor Macmanus Chinenye Ndukwu Thermal dehydration of some forage grasses for livestock feeding: Effect of different methods on moisture diffusivity and the quality of dried leaves Energy Nexus Cows Animal husbandry Herdsmen Forage conservation |
| title | Thermal dehydration of some forage grasses for livestock feeding: Effect of different methods on moisture diffusivity and the quality of dried leaves |
| title_full | Thermal dehydration of some forage grasses for livestock feeding: Effect of different methods on moisture diffusivity and the quality of dried leaves |
| title_fullStr | Thermal dehydration of some forage grasses for livestock feeding: Effect of different methods on moisture diffusivity and the quality of dried leaves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal dehydration of some forage grasses for livestock feeding: Effect of different methods on moisture diffusivity and the quality of dried leaves |
| title_short | Thermal dehydration of some forage grasses for livestock feeding: Effect of different methods on moisture diffusivity and the quality of dried leaves |
| title_sort | thermal dehydration of some forage grasses for livestock feeding effect of different methods on moisture diffusivity and the quality of dried leaves |
| topic | Cows Animal husbandry Herdsmen Forage conservation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427122001115 |
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