Effect of various bale treatments on physical quality and chemical composition of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay
Haffar, I.; Alhadrami, G.
Grass and Forage Science 52(2): 199-206
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0142-5242 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2494.1997.tb02350.x
Accession: 002819190
The effect of harvest season (winter vs. summer), moisture content at baling and bale mass on hay physical quality and chemical composition of two cultivars of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) was studied during bale storage. Three moisture levels (15-20, 20-25 and 25-30%) and three bale masses (13, 18 and 24 kg, at an equal volume of 0.13 msuperscript 3) were tested in Pioneer and Alimba, the most common cultivars in the Arabian Gulf region. Alimba has a rougher texture with more stems and fewer leaves. This caused significantly higher water retention and consequently higher bale temperatures.
