A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of mechanical and chemical drying agents at mowing on the field drying rate and hay quality of orchardgrass dominant pasture plants. The mower conditioner /chemical drying agent ($K_2CO_3$ 2% conditioning, $K_2CO_3$ 2% + conditioning and control) were treated at different harvest stages (late boot, heading and bloom stage) for hastening hay manufacture in 1996. After field dry, four square bales were made by hay baler, and the visual estimation and nutritive value of hay were evaluated after storing two months. The field drying rate of pasture plants was higher with delayed stage of harvest, and mechanical and mechanical + chemical, but chemical alone was very low. In mower conditioning, the duration of field dry was shortened by 0.5 to 1 day compared with $K_2CO_3$ and 1.5 to 2 days compared with control. The dry matter loss of hay was reduced by late harvest and mechanical, and mechanical + chemical, but the score by chemical alone was very low. The visual score (leafiness, green color, odor and softness) of hay after storage was high in mechanical and mechanical + chemical, but the score by chemical alone was very low. Nutritive value (ADF, NDF, digestibility, and relative feed value) of hay was also high with treatment of mechanical and mechanical + chemical, but the quality by chemical alone was similar compared with control. The quality of hay was very low when harvested at bloom stage. In conclusion, mower conditioning can enhance the field drying rate of orchardgrass dominant pasture plants, however the drying efficiency of chemical drying agent was very low. Harvesting at early heading to heading stage was recommened for manufacture of high quality hay.