ENSILING CHARACTERISTICS OF SILAGES TREATED WITH SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Abstract

Two trials were conducted to investigate the effect of NaOH on the ensiling characteristics of corn and alfalfa forage. In one trial, NaOH was added at levels of 0, 2, 3, or 4% of dry matter (DM) to whole plant corn and 0 or 3% to corn stover, and ensiled in cryovac bags. In a second trial, 0 or 3% NaOH was added to whole plant corn or alfalfa (25–40% DM). In addition, alfalfa had molasses added at a level of 0 or 10% of the forage DM. Materials were ensiled in miniature silos of 250-ml capacity. Additions of NaOH to all forages increased silage pH (P < 0.05). Molasses may have some influence in limiting the rise in pH after addition of NaOH but the effect appears to be limited. Alkali treatment of corn stover silage and corn silage generally increased lactic acid production. Total-N of all silages tended to decrease with NaOH treatment. However, alkali treatment markedly reduced soluble-N with all forages (P < 0.05), except with corn stover. Molasses also reduced soluble-N (P < 0.05) with alfalfa silage of low DM content. Treating forages while ensiling would appear to represent a suitable on-farm system for alkali treatment.