Publication Date
1997
Description
King grass (Pennisetum purpureum x P. americanum) was ensiled in metal drum, wirebasket and pit silos in a randomized block design with eight replications in order to determine whether the silos produced silage of the same quality and at the same cost. Pit silage had the most desirable characteristics, followed by drum silage. Moisture content (708 v 718 and 741 g/kgDM for drum and wirebasket respectively), pH (5.18 v 5.65 and 5.77), ammonia nitrogen (137 v 149 and 164 g/kgDM), and butyric acid (8.5 v 11.2 and 14.6 g/kgDM) were lowest, while lactic acid (28.2 v 26.3 and 23.9 g/kgDM) was highest. Pit silo had the lowest unit cost (9.80 v 14.52 and 13.54 US $ /m3 for drum and wirebasket respectively) and produced the highest amount of silage/silo cost (6.85 v 5.96 and 4.48 kgDM for drum and wirebasket).
Citation
Asiedu, F.H. K.; Alexander, C A.; and Proverbs, G, "Ensilage for Low Resources Farmers 1. Drum, Wirebasket and Pit as Silos" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1997-2023). 10.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session14/10
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Ensilage for Low Resources Farmers 1. Drum, Wirebasket and Pit as Silos
King grass (Pennisetum purpureum x P. americanum) was ensiled in metal drum, wirebasket and pit silos in a randomized block design with eight replications in order to determine whether the silos produced silage of the same quality and at the same cost. Pit silage had the most desirable characteristics, followed by drum silage. Moisture content (708 v 718 and 741 g/kgDM for drum and wirebasket respectively), pH (5.18 v 5.65 and 5.77), ammonia nitrogen (137 v 149 and 164 g/kgDM), and butyric acid (8.5 v 11.2 and 14.6 g/kgDM) were lowest, while lactic acid (28.2 v 26.3 and 23.9 g/kgDM) was highest. Pit silo had the lowest unit cost (9.80 v 14.52 and 13.54 US $ /m3 for drum and wirebasket respectively) and produced the highest amount of silage/silo cost (6.85 v 5.96 and 4.48 kgDM for drum and wirebasket).
