Silagem de milho colhida com diferentes alturas e adição de inoculante microbiano e enzimático.

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the quality of corn silage harvested at different heights and with the addition of microbial and enzymatic inoculant. The experimental design used was completely randomized, with treatments in a 3 x 2 + 1 factorial scheme (three heights, with or without inoculant and a pattern represented by green forage), using six replications (experimental silos). The evaluated cutting heights were 20, 40 and 60 cm. Dry matter content, pH, electrical conductivity, water activity and dry matter losses were not affected by cutting heights with or without inoculant. Green forage showed higher pH and electrical conductivity compared to silage. Aerobic stability was lower in green forage compared to silage. However, the height increase reduced the aerobic stability of the silage, which was not influenced by the addition of inoculant. The elevation of the cutting height of the corn plants from 20 to 60 cm reduces the aerobic stability of the silage, with no great impact of the inclusion of a microbial additive based on homofermentative bacteria and fibrolytic enzymes on the fermentation process in laboratory silos with a low amount of silage.