Chemical composition and fermentative losses of sugar cane ensilage with different Brix degrees, with or without calcium oxide

Abstract

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sugar cane ensilage with different Brix degrees, with or without the addition of 0.5% of calcium oxide (lime) on the chemical composition and fermentation losses of silages.A complete random design in a 9 × 2 factorial arrangement was used. Experimental silos were used, ensilage was done every 15 days with Brix measuring, and they were opened after 30 days of fermentation. As the Brix degree of the ensiled material increased, the contents of dry matter (DM) increased and contents of ash, crude protein (CP) and fibers (neutral and acid detergent fiber corrected for proteins -NDFap and ADFap) reduced. After fermentation, DM content of the silage presented a linear increase with the Brix degree content concentration, positively correlating with content of lime, but the contents of ash, CP, EE and NDFap were linearly reduced with the Brix increase. Content of ADFap suffered linear reduction for the treated silage whereas quadratic behavior was found in the untreated silage. Production of ethanol was presented in a quadratic manner for the silages without lime, and cubically in silages with lime, according to the Brix degree. The treated or untreated silages presented an average pH of 3.98 and 3.50, respectively. Contents of acetic acid and butyric acid were not affected by the lime content and Brix degree. Untreated silages presented reduction of contents of propionic acid as the Brix degree increased. The higher the Brix degree value, the higher the total losses of dry matter in the sugar cane silages with or without treatment. The treatment of the sugar cane with 0.5% calcium oxide on the natural matter basis is effective in reducing the undesired fermentation of the ensilage material.

Fermentative profile, losses and chemical composition of silage soybean genotypes amended with sugarcane levels

“…Sugarcane when ensiled at different stages of maturation promotes less recovery of dry matter than when ensiled together with other forages or with additives 14,16,[19][20][21] , corroborating the results in Table 4. 16 reported that the sugarcane is preferably harvested at the stage of maturity above 18 months and during the dry period to have a greater amount of DM and WSC associated with levels below 2% of CP, which could cause a silage with high ethanol concentration. 22 reported that the sugarcane harvest time is related to the concentration of WSC, when harvested in the rainy season there is a reduction in the concentration of WSC.…”

“…22 reported that the sugarcane harvest time is related to the concentration of WSC, when harvested in the rainy season there is a reduction in the concentration of WSC. 16,18,20,22 claimed that enterobacteria predominant in the initial stage of forage fermentation can cause proteolysis, which also hinder the pH drop even with the LAB acting on LA and AA, slowing the pH slower and thus reducing the substrate for the yeast proliferation and alcoholic fermentation, it can be inferred that the silage with 100% sugarcane also presented higher AA values that also inhibit the presence of yeasts, thus causing lower ethanol values, and corroborate the results reported by 23 .…”

“…Thus, it is noted that the silages with higher proportions of sugarcane had lower pH and higher levels of ethanol (Table 2) and WSC (Table 6). 16 reported that the smaller production of ethanol may be inhibited by the acetic acid produced during fermentation. Sugarcane when ensiled at different stages of maturation promotes less recovery of dry matter than when ensiled together with other forages or with additives 14,16,[19][20][21] , corroborating the results in Table 4.…”

“…16 reported that the smaller production of ethanol may be inhibited by the acetic acid produced during fermentation. Sugarcane when ensiled at different stages of maturation promotes less recovery of dry matter than when ensiled together with other forages or with additives 14,16,[19][20][21] , corroborating the results in Table 4. 16 reported that the sugarcane is preferably harvested at the stage of maturity above 18 months and during the dry period to have a greater amount of DM and WSC associated with levels below 2% of CP, which could cause a silage with high ethanol concentration.…”

“…Thus, mixed silage with two or more species or genotypes, such as grasses and legumes, should be a significant agricultural practice in complementary situations. Despite being crops with usually different harvest times, if harvested together at the end of the rainy season they can add positive characteristics from both crops 15 , 16 . In other words, factors that hinder the silage process of the isolated soybean and sugarcane plant could be canceled with the appropriate combination in the silage of these forage plants since the favorable and unfavorable characteristics of both would be strategically improved.…”