Abstract
To quantify the effects of hot summertime temperatures on stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert, we baled alfalfa in late May of 1993 at three distinct areas of the Sonoran Desert and stored the hay for 20 wk The three locations were: University of California Desert Research and Extension Center, Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation, and next to the Autonomous University of Baja California agriculture school. At each location baled hay was allocated to four storage treatments: air conditioned room with a constant temperature of 80°F (COOL), outside under a roofed building open on two sides, with the bales protected from both sunlight and precipitation (SHADE), outside without any protection (SUN), and outside with stacks covered by a grey plastic tarp (TARP). Weekly hay core samples from each treatment and from each location were subjected to the following chemical analyses: dry matter (DM), Kjeldahl N, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent insoluble N (ADIN), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and ash. Maximum bale temperatures of SHADE bales were 100 to 105OF, while SUN and TARP bales heated to maximum temperatures greater than 130OF. At the end of the 20 wk storage period, COOL bales had 83% DM, SHADE bales 92%, TARP bales 90%, and SUN bales had dried to 95% DM. Treatment affected ( P < 0.01) ADIN, ADIN/N, NDF, ADF, and ADL. Initial ADIN/N of fresh hays was about 8.0%. At the end of the storage period, COOL hays had an ADIN/N of 10.9%, SHADE hays 14.1%, SUN hays 23.3%, and TARP hays 24.1%. Increases in ADIN and ADIN/N indicated that SUN and TARP bales were heat damaged. Of the three outdoor storage methods studied, SHADE treatment provided the most protection from heat damage. With regards to alfalfa hay quality, TARP and SUN treatments were similar ( P > 0.05), although the TARP treatment may provide extra protection from infrequent and scant rainfall, protect the bales from bleaching, and reduce excessive bale moisture loss. Research Question The Sonoran Desert is the hottest inhabited part of the USA. Because of climatic conditions in this area, alfalfa hay is commonly stored roadside unprotected from the elements. Heat damage is known to reduce forage protein digestibility and reduce its overall nutritive value. Various covers, such barns or tarps, protect stacked hay from the elements. In this study, we quantified the effects of the Sonoran Desert summertime heat on alfalfa hay quality stored under four different methods. Literature Summary Foods stored for long periods are known to heat and undergo nonenzymatic browning. Artificially dried hay or heated silage have known reductions in protein digestibility. Heat damage of protein in forages has been quantified by measuring the amount of N in the acid detergent fiber residue, or acid detergent insoluble N (ADIN). Several research reports have documented the formation of heat damaged proteins in oven heated forages. Hay stored for long periods also has concomitant increases in acid detergent and neutral detergent fiber, which result in decreases in relative feed value. Study Description During May 1993, from three different Sonoran Desert sites (southeastern California, southwestern Arizona, and northern Baja California), small alfalfa hay bales were subjected to four storage treatments)$ an air conditioned room, (ii) outside under a roof, (iii) outside covered by a plastic tarp, and (iv) outside unprotected. Hay was stored for 20 wk. The hay used was the third cutting of the second year of an alfalfa ‘CUF101’ stand. Weekly samples from each location and treatment were chemically analyzed to determine the nutritive value of the hay. Bale temperatures and corresponding climate variables were also recorded. Applied Questions How did the hay storage treatments affect the drying of the stacked hay? Figure shows that unprotected roadside hay dried down to 90% dry matter (DM) at 6 wk of storage. The tarped hay did not dry to 90% DM until nearly the end of the experiment. The hay stored under a roof dried down to 90% DM at 10 wk of storage. Excessively dry hay becomes brittle. When brittle hay is chopped or ground, “fines” are created, which are undesirable in cattle diets. Brittle hay is also unsuitable for compression into metal containers for export. How did the hay storage treatments affect the formation of indigestible protein? Mean bale dry matter from alfalfa stacks stored from late May to early October 1993 in the Sonoran Desert under four storage treatments; hays stored in air conditioned room,‐‐‐‐; hays stored outdoors under a roof,‐; hays stored outside protected by a plastic tarp,‐‐‐; and hays stored outside in full sunlight,‐.‐.‐. image Figure demonstrates that hay stored outdoors, whether unprotected or under a tarp, had increased indigestible protein. Hay dried in an air conditioned room had 8% indigestible protein while hay stored in the desert heat after 20 wk had 24% indigestible protein. Although hay stored outdoors under a roof did have a slight increase in ADIN, barn storage of hay decreased reductions in bound protein during the trial. How did the hay storage treatments affect alfalfa hay feed quality? Mean ADINN values from alfalfa stacks stored from late May to early October 1993 in the Sonoran Desert under four storage treatments, hays stored in air conditioned room,‐‐‐‐; hays stored outdoors under a roof,‐; bays stored outside protected by a plastic tarp,‐‐‐; and hays stored outside in full sunlight,‐.‐.‐. image Figure illustrates that hay stored outdoors unprotected or under a tarp had increased levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), which will decrease relative feed value. Barn stored hay exhibited much smaller increases in NDF during storage. Recommendations During the Sonoran Desert summer, barn storage protects hay from protein degradation and from decreases in hay quality. Protecting hay stored outdoors with a tarp, while not preventing decreases in hay nutritive value, at least would protect hay from infrequent rainfall damage, reduce bleaching on the outside of stacks, and reduce excessive moisture loss of stacked hay. Mean NDF values from alfalfa stacks stored from late May to early October 1993 in the Sonoran Desert under four storage treatments; hays stored in air conditioned room,‐‐‐‐; hays stored outdoors under a roof,‐; hays stored outside protected by a plastic tarp,‐‐‐; and hays stored outside in full sunlight,‐.‐.‐. image
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Claims 20
Claim · model-written summary
At the end of 20 weeks of storage, COOL hay bales had 83% dry matter.
- Taxon
- alfalfa
Medicago sativae1 - Treatment
- COOLe0
- Outcome
- DMe0
- Value
- 83%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e0“At the end of the 20 wk storage period, COOL bales had 83% DM, SHADE bales 92%, TARP bales 90%, and SUN bales had dried to 95% DM”
Claim · model-written summary
At the end of 20 weeks of storage, SHADE hay bales had 92% dry matter.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- SHADEe0
- Outcome
- DMe0
- Value
- 92%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e0“At the end of the 20 wk storage period, COOL bales had 83% DM, SHADE bales 92%, TARP bales 90%, and SUN bales had dried to 95% DM”
Claim · model-written summary
At the end of 20 weeks of storage, TARP hay bales had 90% dry matter.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- TARPe0
- Outcome
- DMe0
- Value
- 90%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e0“At the end of the 20 wk storage period, COOL bales had 83% DM, SHADE bales 92%, TARP bales 90%, and SUN bales had dried to 95% DM”
Claim · model-written summary
At the end of 20 weeks of storage, SUN hay bales had dried to 95% dry matter.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- SUNe0
- Outcome
- DMe0
- Value
- 95%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e0“At the end of the 20 wk storage period, COOL bales had 83% DM, SHADE bales 92%, TARP bales 90%, and SUN bales had dried to 95% DM”
Claim · model-written summary
Maximum bale temperature of SHADE bales was 100 to 105 °F.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- SHADEe2
- Outcome
- Maximum bale temperaturese2
- Value
- 100 to 105OFe2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e2“Maximum bale temperatures of SHADE bales were 100 to 105OF, while SUN and TARP bales heated to maximum temperatures greater than 130OF”
Claim · model-written summary
SUN and TARP bales reached maximum temperatures greater than 130 °F.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- SUN and TARPe2
- Outcome
- maximum temperaturese2
- Value
- 130OFe2
- Qualifier
- greater thane2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e2“Maximum bale temperatures of SHADE bales were 100 to 105OF, while SUN and TARP bales heated to maximum temperatures greater than 130OF”
Claim · model-written summary
COOL hay had an ADIN/N of 10.9% at the end of storage.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- COOLe3
- Outcome
- ADIN/Ne3
- Value
- 10.9%e3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e3“COOL hays had an ADIN/N of 10.9%, SHADE hays 14.1%, SUN hays 23.3%, and TARP hays 24.1%”
Claim · model-written summary
SHADE hay had an ADIN/N of 14.1% at the end of storage.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- SHADEe3
- Outcome
- ADIN/Ne3
- Value
- 14.1%e3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e3“COOL hays had an ADIN/N of 10.9%, SHADE hays 14.1%, SUN hays 23.3%, and TARP hays 24.1%”
Claim · model-written summary
SUN hay had an ADIN/N of 23.3% at the end of storage.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- SUNe3
- Outcome
- ADIN/Ne3
- Value
- 23.3%e3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e3“COOL hays had an ADIN/N of 10.9%, SHADE hays 14.1%, SUN hays 23.3%, and TARP hays 24.1%”
Claim · model-written summary
TARP hay had an ADIN/N of 24.1% at the end of storage.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- TARPe3
- Outcome
- ADIN/Ne3
- Value
- 24.1%e3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e3“COOL hays had an ADIN/N of 10.9%, SHADE hays 14.1%, SUN hays 23.3%, and TARP hays 24.1%”
Claim · model-written summary
Storage treatment significantly affected ADIN, ADIN/N and NDF of the hay.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- Treatmente4
- Outcome
- ADIN, ADIN/N, NDFe4
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e4“Treatment affected ( P < 0.01) ADIN, ADIN/N, NDF, ADF, and ADL”
Claim · model-written summary
Storage treatment significantly affected ADF and ADL of the hay.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- Treatmente4
- Outcome
- ADF, and ADLe4
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e4“Treatment affected ( P < 0.01) ADIN, ADIN/N, NDF, ADF, and ADL”
Claim · model-written summary
Of the three outdoor storage methods, SHADE storage gave the most protection from heat damage.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- SHADE treatmente5
- Outcome
- protection from heat damagee5
- Direction
- provided the most protectione5
- Comparator
- three outdoor storage methodse5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e5“Of the three outdoor storage methods studied, SHADE treatment provided the most protection from heat damage”
Claim · model-written summary
TARP and SUN storage gave similar alfalfa hay quality.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- TARPe6
- Outcome
- alfalfa hay qualitye6
- Direction
- similare6
- Comparator
- SUNe6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e6“With regards to alfalfa hay quality, TARP and SUN treatments were similar ( P > 0.05)”
Claim · model-written summary
Hay dried in an air conditioned room had 8% indigestible protein.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- air conditioned roome7
- Outcome
- indigestible proteine7
- Value
- 8%e7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e7“Hay dried in an air conditioned room had 8% indigestible protein while hay stored in the desert heat after 20 wk had 24% indigestible protein”
Claim · model-written summary
Hay stored in the desert heat for 20 weeks had 24% indigestible protein.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- desert heate7
- Outcome
- indigestible proteine7
- Value
- 24%e7
- Qualifier
- after 20 wke7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e7“Hay dried in an air conditioned room had 8% indigestible protein while hay stored in the desert heat after 20 wk had 24% indigestible protein”
Claim · model-written summary
Barn storage is recommended because it protects hay from protein degradation and from decreases in hay quality during the Sonoran Desert summer.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Outcome
- barn storagee2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e2“During the Sonoran Desert summer, barn storage protects hay from protein degradation and from decreases in hay quality”
Claim · model-written summary
Protecting outdoor hay with a tarp would protect it from rainfall damage, bleaching and excessive moisture loss, though it does not prevent nutritive value decline.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Outcome
- Protecting hay stored outdoors with a tarpe2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e2“Protecting hay stored outdoors with a tarp, while not preventing decreases in hay nutritive value, at least would protect hay from infrequent rainfall damage, reduce bleaching on the outside of stacks, and reduce excessive moisture loss of stacked hay”
Claim · model-written summary
Unprotected roadside hay dried down to 90% dry matter at 6 weeks of storage.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- unprotected roadside haye2
- Outcome
- dry matter (DM)e2
- Value
- 90%e2
- Qualifier
- at 6 wk of storagee2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e2“unprotected roadside hay dried down to 90% dry matter (DM) at 6 wk of storage”
Claim · model-written summary
Hay stored under a roof dried down to 90% dry matter at 10 weeks of storage.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- under a roofe2
- Outcome
- DMe2
- Value
- 90%e2
- Qualifier
- at 10 wk of storagee2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“stored alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) hay in the irrigated Sonoran Desert”
e2“The hay stored under a roof dried down to 90% DM at 10 wk of storage”
The same questions in other papers
rainfall · pest · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Positive and negative results
1 in the opposite direction
- negative
light · pest · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Positive and negative results
2 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- negative
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.