Factors Affecting Separating Birdsfoot Trefoil Petioles from Stems
ABSTRACT To determine the importance of such factors as moisture content, stage of maturity, length-to-diameter ratio of the petioles and drying temperature in achieving separation of leaves and petioles from stems of birdsfoot trefoil, prepared samples were dried to different moisture levels in a forced-air oven and in ambient air. Below a moisture content of 9.5% (wb), the ultimate bending force of the petiole was independent of maturity, but was affected by the length-to-diameter ratio of the petiole in a quadratic relationship. Higher drying temperatures resulted in a greater moisture differential between the stem and the petiole and leaves.