Alkali Treatments of Corn Stover to Increase Nutritive Value1

Abstract

Chopped corn stover was reconstituted, treated and stored in 205 liter drums with plastic liners at room temperature for at least 30 days. Treatments were: (1) control, 50% H20;(2) 2% NaOH and 2% Ca(OH)2, 50% H20;(3) 3%NH3, 30%H2O;(4) 5%NH3, 30% H2O. Treatments were evaluated with eight wether lambs in a double 4x4 latin square design. Ammoniated materials were aerated before feeding. Control and hydroxide-treated stover were supplemented with urea. Organic matter intakes increased (P<.001) by 45 to 51% with the different alkali treatments. Treatments also increased (P<.05) gross energy digestibility from 12 to 14%. Nitrogen digestibility tended to decrease slightly with treatments. Treatment with 3% NH3 increased total nitrogen content (P<.001) by 94% over control. Much of this added nitrogen was analyzed as ammonia-N. However, true protein contents were increased (P<.05) with ammoniated stover over control silage. Negligible amounts of lactic acid were contained in the NH3-treated materials. However, NH3 treatments increased (P<.05) acetic acid content.