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Publication Date
1981
Description
Relationships between crop composition and silage composition were examined for 231 silages made at the Grassland Research Institute from 1968 to 1978 without additives. A test was made of the model of Weissbach et al. (1974) in which silage characteristics were related to the percentage of dry matter in the crop (OM) and the ratio of sugar (Z) to buffering capacity (PK). Although these factors accounted for significant variance, the percentage accounted for was low at 36 % for lactic acid (percentage of total acids), 26 % for Flieg's score, 22 % for ammonia N (percentage of total N), and 12 % for butyric acid (percentage of total acids). Consideration of the separate effects of OM, Z, and PK accounted for broadly similar percentages of the variance. Variation in Z (percentage of fresh weight) appeared to be more important than variation in the other factors. Cluster analysis was carried out according to silage characteristics, and the silages formed seven distinctive groups, three of which were considered well preserved and four poorly preserved. All the crop characteristics examined-OM, Z, PK, Z: PK, N (percentage of fresh weight), and pH-varied significantly with silage group, and mean values for Z were higher for the three well-preserved groups than for the other groups. The percentage of poorly preserved silages decreased with increase in Z; when Z contents were below 2 % some 44 % of the silages were poorly preserved, whereas when Z was above 2 % only 5 % of the silages were poorly preserved. It is concluded that Z alone can indicate in broad terms the probability of obtaining good preservation without the use of additives.
Citation
Wilkinson, J M.; Chapman, P F.; Wilkins, R J.; and Wilson, R F., "Interrelationships Between Pattern of Fermentation During Ensilage and Initial Crop Composition" (1981). IGC Proceedings (1977-2023). 7.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1981/section10/7)
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Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Interrelationships Between Pattern of Fermentation During Ensilage and Initial Crop Composition
Relationships between crop composition and silage composition were examined for 231 silages made at the Grassland Research Institute from 1968 to 1978 without additives. A test was made of the model of Weissbach et al. (1974) in which silage characteristics were related to the percentage of dry matter in the crop (OM) and the ratio of sugar (Z) to buffering capacity (PK). Although these factors accounted for significant variance, the percentage accounted for was low at 36 % for lactic acid (percentage of total acids), 26 % for Flieg's score, 22 % for ammonia N (percentage of total N), and 12 % for butyric acid (percentage of total acids). Consideration of the separate effects of OM, Z, and PK accounted for broadly similar percentages of the variance. Variation in Z (percentage of fresh weight) appeared to be more important than variation in the other factors. Cluster analysis was carried out according to silage characteristics, and the silages formed seven distinctive groups, three of which were considered well preserved and four poorly preserved. All the crop characteristics examined-OM, Z, PK, Z: PK, N (percentage of fresh weight), and pH-varied significantly with silage group, and mean values for Z were higher for the three well-preserved groups than for the other groups. The percentage of poorly preserved silages decreased with increase in Z; when Z contents were below 2 % some 44 % of the silages were poorly preserved, whereas when Z was above 2 % only 5 % of the silages were poorly preserved. It is concluded that Z alone can indicate in broad terms the probability of obtaining good preservation without the use of additives.
