Effect of Dry Matter and Additives on Bermudagrass and Rhizoma Peanut Round Bale Silage

Abstract

Round bale silage offers a means of avoiding rain damage to conserved forage harvested in a humid environment. This study was conducted to assess the importance of forage characteristics, such as maturity and dry matter (DM) at ensiling, to the preservation of round bale silage made with ‘Coastcross‐1’ and ‘Suwanee’ bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], and ‘Florigraze’ rhizoma peanut ( Arachis glabrata Benth). The effects of ammoniation, microbial inoculation, and mixed enzyme treatment also were determined. Large round bales of low DM forage were ensiled in plastic bags. In Exp. 1, immature (5‐wk regrowth) bermudagrass was ensiled as direct cut (27.4% DM) and wilted (48.9% DM) forage, and mature (8‐wk regrowth) bermudagrass was ensiled as direct cut (42.5% DM) forage. Each type was subdivided further into control, ammoniated and microbially inoculated treatments. In Exp. 2, rhizoma peanut (8‐wk regrowth) and bermudagrass (6‐wk regrowth) were ensiled at 31.8 and 39.1% DM for rhizoma peanut, and 37.4 and 45.7% for bermudagrass. Treatments included ammoniation, microbial inoculation, and enzymes. There was substantial variation in silage quality, with quality more dependent upon forage species, maturity, and DM than any of the silage additives. Wilting to increase the DM content to at least 40% was beneficial as seen by the improved fermentation characteristics and DM recovery of wilted silage.