Effects of different making methods on the drying characteristics and nutrition quality of Medicago sativa hay

Medicago sativa which was in budding initial stage and planted 2 years was taken as materials, and 5 methods, including flatting stems+spraying 2.5% K2CO3, flatting stems, sun curing, drying in shade and drying under 105 ℃ condition (CK), were used to made green hay, in this study. Besides, effects of different green hay making methods on dry characteristics and nutritional quality of M.sativa green hay were studied, and a comprehensive evaluation of M.sativa green hays was conducted. Results showed that, except CK, the drying rates in other making methods were all fast at first, and then slow. Both of drying under 105 ℃ condition and flatting stems+spraying K2CO3 could speed up drying rate and reduce nutritional losses of green hay. Sun curing could also speed up drying rate, but it could not maintain the quality of green hay. The results of Grey Relational Analysis on 5 green hay making methods indicated that, CK had the best comprehensive performance, followed by green hays made by flatting stems+spraying K2CO3. So flatting stems+spraying K2CO3 is a quick and easy method to make green hay, and it is worth to be recommended in production.