Aditivos químicos ou microbiológico na silagem de milho

Abstract

Ensilage is a technique for preserving moist green forages by acidification, through the process of anaerobic fermentation. The success in the fermentation process can be linked to several factors related to the characteristics of the plant to be ensiled. Factors such as high moisture content or low content of soluble carbohydrates can interfere in the fermentation process, causing secondary fermentation, resulting in loss of nutritive principles and dry matter (DM). In this context, the use of chemical and/or microbial additives in silage has the principle of helping the fermentation process, reducing losses and improving the nutritional value of silages. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of using some additives on the fermentation pattern and the chemical composition of corn silage (Zea mays L.). The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of the Federal University of Fronteira Sul campus of Realeza in the years 2019 and 2020. It was used a completely randomized design with five treatments (corn silage without additive; silage with 3.0% urea additive; silage with additive 3.0 limestone; silage with 3.0% crystal sugar; and silage with bacterial inoculant). At the time of cutting, the agronomic parameters of the corn crop were evaluated: crop characterization and productivity measurement. At the time of making the silage, the pH of the crushed material was measured during the 15-day fermentation process. After 60 days of ensiling, samples were collected for chemical analysis, organic acids and ammonia nitrogen. The inclusion of additives altered the fermentation process and chemical-bromatological composition of the additive silages. For the pH at the end of the fermentation process, the addition of limestone or urea promoted higher pH values. Inorganic acids, the addition of additives reduced the production of butyric acid. Silages with limestone or urea had higher concentrations of lactic acid, silages with inoculant or without additive had higher acetic acid contents, and the highest ammonia nitrogen means were obtained in silages with urea additive, followed by the treatment without additive. There was an effect of the actives on the chemical and chemical composition of the silages. The use of additives increased ADF, NDF, cellulose, hemicellulose and protein, in contrast, reduced non-fibrous carbohydrates and TDN.