Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.33128/k.62.2.4
Ensiling of the whole maize plant
Marina Vranić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Krešimir Bošnjak
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sara Kolar
; studentica Agronomskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Lucija Božić
; studentica Agronomskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Milan Bogičević
; student Agronomskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
The ensiled whole maize plant is commonly used for feeding ruminants primarily for the high suitability of maize plant for ensiling, high energy content, and high dry matter yield (ST) per unit area. The aim of this paper is to present the basic aspects of maize silage production related to the selection of maize hybrids for sowing, density of corn crop for ensiling, maturity of maize for ensiling, mowing height, yield, cutting length, application of silage additives, and closure of fermentation in a silo. Maize silage production can be fully mechanized and the crop is mowed once a year, so labor and mechanization costs are lower compared to, for example, grass silage/haylage production where several forage cuts are obtained over the vegetation season. The corn for ensiling is harvested a few weeks before the full maturity, and if necessary, certain areas under silage corn can be used for grain production. The development of maize hybrids is crucial in global trends in maize silage production, and the choice of hybrids is the most important factor in profitable maize silage production. Yield and nutritional value of corn silage depend on microclimatic growing conditions, all the agro-technology applied for crop growing and timely ensiling from harvesting, filling and closing the silo to the end of fermentation in the silo.
Keywords
corn silage; ensiling technology
Hrčak ID:
271020
URI
Publication date:
14.1.2022.
Visits: 1.245 *