Alkali Treatments of Corn Stover to Increase Nutritive Value1

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Abstract
Chopped corn stover was reconstituted, treated and stored in 205 liter drums with plastic liners at room temperature for at least 30 days. Treatments were: (1) control, 50% H20;(2) 2% NaOH and 2% Ca(OH)2, 50% H20;(3) 3%NH3, 30%H2O;(4) 5%NH3, 30% H2O. Treatments were evaluated with eight wether lambs in a double 4x4 latin square design. Ammoniated materials were aerated before feeding. Control and hydroxide-treated stover were supplemented with urea. Organic matter intakes increased (P<.001) by 45 to 51% with the different alkali treatments. Treatments also increased (P<.05) gross energy digestibility from 12 to 14%. Nitrogen digestibility tended to decrease slightly with treatments. Treatment with 3% NH3 increased total nitrogen content (P<.001) by 94% over control. Much of this added nitrogen was analyzed as ammonia-N. However, true protein contents were increased (P<.05) with ammoniated stover over control silage. Negligible amounts of lactic acid were contained in the NH3-treated materials. However, NH3 treatments increased (P<.05) acetic acid content. Copyright © 1977. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1977 by American Society of Animal Science.

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