Drying characteristics of berseem in a solar dryer with supplemental heating system

Abstract

A solar dryer developed at ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi was used for berseem hay making in the month of March 2014. During drying, average ambient temperature was observed as 29.5 0C, while in the solar chamber it was 39.8 0C. Chopped samples at 4.444 kg/m2 loading density dried in the solar dryer took an average drying time of 14 hrs which was 4 hrs lesser than the drying time of unchopped samples under open sun drying. The major part of drying took place in falling rate period with the exception of some initial acceleration period. The capacity of the dryer for berseem crop was 100 kg per batch at 5.555 kg/m2 loading density and the cost of processing per quintal was Rs 360.