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Preservation of Forage Nutrients as Silage in Gas-Tight Enclosures of Polyvinyl Chloride Plastic¹

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to determine the degree of nutrient retention in forages preserved as silage in gas-tight polyvinyl chloride plastic film.

The upright tower silo has been most extensively vised in the United States. Bunkers, stacks, and pits of various sizes, common for many years in Europe, are now frequently found on American livestock farms, also. In many instances, however, savings in. construction costs with the more temporary storage units are not fully realized, owing to the high nutrient losses. Extensive respiration, leaching, and aerobic spoilage are difficult to control in most of these structures, consequently, poor-quality silage is a commonplace.

The detailed study of two ten-ton stacks described in this paper followed extensive studies with smaller units, over a period of three years (9, 10).

LITERATURE REVIEW

Nutrient losses have been classified as seepage, surface spoilage, and fermentation. The last-named includes both respiration and fermentation losses collectively. All normally are expressed best as dry matter lost.

¹ Paper of the Journal Series, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, Department of Farm Crops, New Brunswick. This study represents the Farm Crops activity of a joint project with the Department of Agricultural Engineering. Supported in part by a grant-in-aid from the Bakelite Company.

² Former Research Assistant in Farm Crops, and Professor in Farm Crops, respectively.