Abstract

SANTOS DA SILVA, W et al. Characteristics and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages, treated with urea, NaOH and corn. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2014, vol.37, n.2, pp. 182-190. ISSN 0864-0394.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different additives on the aerobic stability of sugarcane, preserved as silage in laboratory silos. The dry matter (DM), ethereal extract (EE), mineral matter (MM), crude protein (CP), pH and aerobic stability of the silage treated with urea, NaOH and ground corn, were determined. A completely randomized design, with four repetitions, was used to evaluate the following treatments: sugarcane without additives, sugarcane + 4 % ground corn, sugarcane + 1 % urea, sugarcane + 1% urea + 4 % ground corn, sugarcane + 1 % NaOH, and sugarcane + 1 % NaOH + 4 % ground corn. The silages treated with urea had a higher percentage of EE. In the presence of urea and NaOH, the addition of ground corn significantly increased the CP. The NaOH increased the MM percentage. The DM losses caused by gases were significantly higher in the silages that did not receive chemical additives. There were significant differences in the production of CO₂ at different times of exposure to air. It is concluded that the additives improved the chemical characteristics, except the DM content, and reduced the loss by gases in anaerobic fermentation.

Keywords : additives; gases; silage.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · English ( pdf ) | Spanish ( pdf )