Harvest management effects on ensiling characteristics and silage nutritive value of seeded Pennisetum hexaploid hybrids
R. F. Spitaleri, L. E. Sollenberger, C. R. Staples and S. C. Schank
Postharvest Biology and Technology Vol: 5 Issue: 4 Pages: 353-362.
1995
บทคัดย่อ
Seed propagated interspecific hybrids of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] and elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) are productive, high in nutritive value, and may have potential as ensiled forages for dairy cattle, but more information is needed about ensiling management. Two hybrids were evaluated in terms of nutritive value of herbage, herbage characteristics that affect fermentation, and chemical composition and in vitro organic matter disappearance of silage. Treatments included harvesting forage at 6- and 12-wk intervals and ensiling directly in laboratory silos or ensiling after wilting for 6 h. Forage from all treatments had low buffering capacity (88-176 meq NaOH kg-1 DM) and low but sufficient water-soluble carbohydrate concentration (39-72 g kg-1 DM) to allow proper preservation. Unwilted forage had greater water-soluble carbohydrate concentration than wilted, and silage made from unwilted forage had lower pH, greater lactic acid concentration, and higher Flieg scores than silage made from wilted forage. Lactic acid was the major end product of fermentation for all silages. Acetic acid concentrations were low and butyric acid was not present. Crude protein, in vitro organic matter disappearance, and neutral detergent fiber concentrations were affected to a greater degree by plant maturity than by moisture at ensiling. These data indicate that seeded hexaploid Pennisetum hybrids can be successfully ensiled across a range of plant maturities and moisture concentrations. Wilting was not an advantage when using small laboratory silos, but if hexaploid hybrid cultivars are released, ensiling management should be evaluated further using commercial-size silos.