- #1
vadar
- 16
- 0
Hi all
I am an electronic engineer and am currently looking into taking brix measurements of pastures in NZ. (Not really my speciality!)
I am using a brix refractometer which is meant to measure the surcose/water ratio for a solution. Currently I use a garlic press to sqeeze the sap from a grass sample onto the refractometer. I am generally focusing on perennial ryegrass.
1. What are all the compounds that would be squeezed from the grass? My assumption so far is that it would be water, surcose, fructans, pectins, minerals, protiens, and a small amount of structral carbohydrates ( cell walls etc). Is this correct or are there other major components I'm missing? What sort of proprotions could I expect these in?
2. If I roll the sample prior to squeezing it I obtain higher brix readings, proportional to how long I roll it for. By rolling/crushing the sample I assume I am introducing more broken up strutural carbohydrates to the solution. Is this correct?
Thanks alot, I appericate any ideas, thoughts related to this.
Cheers
Toby
I am an electronic engineer and am currently looking into taking brix measurements of pastures in NZ. (Not really my speciality!)
I am using a brix refractometer which is meant to measure the surcose/water ratio for a solution. Currently I use a garlic press to sqeeze the sap from a grass sample onto the refractometer. I am generally focusing on perennial ryegrass.
1. What are all the compounds that would be squeezed from the grass? My assumption so far is that it would be water, surcose, fructans, pectins, minerals, protiens, and a small amount of structral carbohydrates ( cell walls etc). Is this correct or are there other major components I'm missing? What sort of proprotions could I expect these in?
2. If I roll the sample prior to squeezing it I obtain higher brix readings, proportional to how long I roll it for. By rolling/crushing the sample I assume I am introducing more broken up strutural carbohydrates to the solution. Is this correct?
Thanks alot, I appericate any ideas, thoughts related to this.
Cheers
Toby