QUALITY OF TIMOTHY, BROMEGRASS AND ORCHARDGRASS SILAGES AS INFLUENCED BY N FERTILIZATION, HARVEST AND ENSILING TREATMENT

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of two rates of nitrogen fertilization on the quality of silages, made of primary growth and aftermath of timothy (Phleum pratense L.), bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were determined. Wilted and unwilted forage and unwilted forage that was treated with formic acid or formic acid plus formaldehyde were included. All grasses, and especially those fertilized with 132 kg N/ha, were low in water-soluble carbohydrates. The addition of formic acid resulted in good quality silages with low pH’s, ammonium-N and fermentation acid contents. Formaldehyde further reduced ammonium-N in the silages. Silages from wilted and unwilted forages without preservatives had higher pH’s, ammonium-N and fermentation acid contents than those with preservatives, but most of these silages were considered to be satisfactory quality. The quality of silages was influenced less by the rates of N or harvest dates than by the ensiling treatments.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: