Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
Gas exchange leading to air infusion into the silo during the storage period is one of the main reasons for poor silage quality and additional losses. To make these losses better predictable, and to show ways to ensiling technology to avoid them, the parameters influencing the gas exchange in silage stacks have to be defined and quantified. The motive powers for this gas exchange are "breathing" in gastight systems, and CO2 flow off in "open" systems. Recent experiments using 6 m3 pilot silos to evaluate and quantify these losses, especially those due to CO2 flow off, show the following results: A leak in the bottom part of the silo may cause monthly losses up to 3% DM. Improved consolidation may reduce these losses markedly to 0.8% at 300 kg DM/m3. At larger leak sizes consolidation becomes the only controlling factor. Additional measurements of the gas flow through forage samples at the low pressure ranges occurring in silage stacks, using a special test unit, indicate that the gas flow may be stopped at certain threshold values dependent on the forage structure as described by DM content or chopping length. The investigations have underlined the negative effect of gas exchange on silage recovery and the importance of consolidation as compensation for small leaks. Further measurements are necessary to provide a reliable data basis to evaluate these processes in a simulation model, and to optimize them according to specific ensiling conditions.
Citation
Honig, H and Zimmer, E, "Losses During Ensiling Due to Gas Exchange" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 20.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses9/20)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Losses During Ensiling Due to Gas Exchange
Kyoto Japan
Gas exchange leading to air infusion into the silo during the storage period is one of the main reasons for poor silage quality and additional losses. To make these losses better predictable, and to show ways to ensiling technology to avoid them, the parameters influencing the gas exchange in silage stacks have to be defined and quantified. The motive powers for this gas exchange are "breathing" in gastight systems, and CO2 flow off in "open" systems. Recent experiments using 6 m3 pilot silos to evaluate and quantify these losses, especially those due to CO2 flow off, show the following results: A leak in the bottom part of the silo may cause monthly losses up to 3% DM. Improved consolidation may reduce these losses markedly to 0.8% at 300 kg DM/m3. At larger leak sizes consolidation becomes the only controlling factor. Additional measurements of the gas flow through forage samples at the low pressure ranges occurring in silage stacks, using a special test unit, indicate that the gas flow may be stopped at certain threshold values dependent on the forage structure as described by DM content or chopping length. The investigations have underlined the negative effect of gas exchange on silage recovery and the importance of consolidation as compensation for small leaks. Further measurements are necessary to provide a reliable data basis to evaluate these processes in a simulation model, and to optimize them according to specific ensiling conditions.
