Addition of Ammonia and Urea Plus Molasses to High Moisture Snapped Ear Corn at Ensiling

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Abstract
An experiment determined effects of N additions at ensiling on snapped ear corn. Snapped ear corn containing moisture of 36.7, 30.3, and 24.9% was ensiled with no N addition (control), ammonia hydroxide, or a commercial urea plus molasses product. Nitrogen was added to attain 13% CP, dry basis. Ground snapped ear corn (2.5 kg) was ensiled in plastic bags and monitored throughout a 28-d period. Increasing moisture contents decreased pH during the 28-d fermentation. Control and ammonium hydroxide-treated snapped ear corn declined in pH whereas urea plus molasses-treated snapped ear corn increased in pH. Ammonium hydroxide promoted highest production of lactic acid in snapped ear corn of 36.7% moisture. Acetic and propionic acid production was highest in the urea plus molasses-trated snapped ear corn across all three moistures. Urea plus molasses addition promoted the highest butyric acid production in the snapped ear corn with added N. Addition of either urea plus molasses or ammonium hydroxide resulted in less precipitable N after 28 d of fermentation than control. Increasing moisture decreased precipitable N at 28 d in all treatments.