[Analysis and evaluation on the nutrition components of Huaiyang Medicago polymorpha with different mowing crops]

Abstract

Objective: Analyze and evaluate systematically on the nutrient component variations of Huaiyang Medicago polymorpha cultivated in autumn greenhouse with different mowing crops.

Methods: Cultivated all the Medicago polymorpha grops in six greenhouses in November 2013, mowed totally six times with every 30 days, finally collected all the mature part of the whole grass on the ground (seeds before and after threshing) and straws which amount to nine crops. After vacuum dried at low temperature then grinded into superfine powder. Details of sample moisture have been recorded during the whole process. Standard food nutrition ingredient detection method was adopted to make systematically comparative analysis on the nutrients.

Results: All the protein contents in the first six mowing edible crops of Huaiyang Medicago polymorpha were above 28. 5%. It contained 18 amino acids, 9 kinds of essential amino acids which amino acid pattern was close to human beings, limiting amino acids here were referred to tryptophan and methionine. The ultimate dietary fiber was between 24.6% and 28.4%, the fat content was between 4.0% and 6.0%. The crops also contained abundant vitamins, minerals and trace elements. The protein content of the first three mowing crops powder were 38.6%, 37.9% and 35.9%, the contents of fat content were 4.3%, 5.1% and 5.0%, the content of dietary fiber were 25.4%, 24.6% and 27.2%.

Conclusion: The first six mowing crops of the Huaiyang Medicago polymorpha which cultivated in autumn greenhouse contained abundant nutrient ingredients especially high protein, high dietary fiber and low fat. And the corresponding nutrition ingredients and contents have not changed significantly with the increased mowed crops. The nutrient contents of all the crops in the seed mature period and hay straw fell sharply and showed no directly edible value.