Control of the drying process of forage in a deep layer

摘要

Good knowledge of sorption behaviour is necessary in drying and storing agricultural products. Equilibrium moisture content for adsorption and desorption of Lotus corniculatus L forage was investigated in the temperature range 30-50 deg C and water activity ranging from 0.4 to 0.99. Three models available in the literature were evaluated: Halsey, Henderson and Oswin. Best results were obtained, both for stems and leaves, with a specially developed exponential model. Equilibrium moisture content, relative air humidity, temperature of the material stored and near ambient air temperature were major factors controlling the drying process in a deep layer.