Effect of the stage of maturity on the leaf percentage of lucerne and the effect of additives on silage characteristics

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The first part of the study concerns the effect of the stage of maturity on nutrient content and leaf percentage of lucerne (Medicago sativa). The plants of lucerne were harvested and analysed at several stages of growth. The crop yield and changes in the concentration of nutrients were determined. The leaf percentage from whole herbage and leaf yield were determined as well. The leaf percentage at the growth stage of small buds was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than at the growth stage of bloom in all three cuts (1 st cut 52.7% vs. 46.62%; 2 nd cut 52.03% vs. 44.70%; 3 rd cut 50.58% vs. 46.26%). Crude protein content of lucerne was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from the large bud growth stage (small buds 219.6 g/kg DM and large buds 203.1 g/kg DM vs. bloom 173.5 and after bloom 154.2). In the second part of the study, the effect of silage additives on fermentation characteristics of lucerne was investigated. The bacterial inoculant (containing homo-and heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria), chemical additive (containing formic acid, propionic acid, ammonium formate and benzoic acid) and the bacterial inoculant with benzoic acid were used for the improvement of fermentation process.The addition of the inoculant with L. buchneri increased acetic acid (P < 0.05) concentration compared to the silage with chemical additive (group I with inoculant -1.22%; group Ch with chemical additive -0.84%; group ICh with chemical additive and inoculant -1.43). Control silage (C) without additive contained 1.14% acetic acid in dry matter.Keywords: lucerne; leaves; stems; buds; bloom; nutrients 331Czech J. Anim. Sci., 53, 2008 (8): 330-335 Original Paper (McDonald et al., 1987).The aim of this study was (i) to assess the effect of harvest date on the yield and quality of lucerne, and (ii) to compare the effects of additives on quality parameters of lucerne silage. MATERIAL AND METHODSThe effect of harvest date on the yield and quality of lucerne herbage was determined in the first experiment (2004). The objective of this experiment was to examine changes in leaf and stem characteristics of lucerne herbage. These data were determined at the growth stage of small buds and bloom during the first, the second and the third cut.Lucerne, cultivar Europe, was grown in an experimental field of the Research Institute of Animal Science (280 m above sea level) near Prague. The average temperature in this area during the last six years was 9.7°C and average total precipitation was 601.3 mm. Lucerne was planted at the seeding rate of 18 kg/ha with wheat as a foregoing crop and legume-cereal mixture as a cover crop. The area 15 × 15 m was marked out at each cut in the 10 ha lucerne field and six samples (each 1 × 1 m) were chosen for cutting at the growth stage of small buds and six samples at growth stages of large buds, bloom and after bloom. Six samples (each 1 × 1 m) were cut at two growth stages (small buds and bloom). The remaining part of the 10 ha field was cut at stages of maturity when the 30% growth had large bud...

The Productivity and Quality of Alfalfa (<em>Medicago sativa</em> L.) in Romanian Forest Steppe

“…Thus, for this purpose were created varieties with a higher percentage of leaves (varieties with shorter internodes, with a greater number of leaves floors, or pentafoliate leaves varieties). Rotili et al (2001), Lamb et al (2006), Petkova and Panayotova (2007), Tyrolová and Výborná (2008), highlighted these issues in their studies. The leaves/stems ratio varies according to numerous factors: the variety grown, fertilizer application, number of cuts, climatic conditions etc., but the obtained results showed that the phenological phase when alfalfa is harvested also has a predominant influence on this indicator.…”

“…Although alfalfa crop fields have the appearance of a uniform mass consisting of stems, leaves, flowers and petioles, each of these parts differ in terms of chemical composition (Tyrolová and Výborná, 2008;Vasileva, 2013;Vyas et al, 2009).…”

“…An important indicator in determining the chemical composition of alfalfa, is the leaf/stem ratio, which also depends on the time of harvesting. The aim is to have the highest possible percentage of leaves, since the leaves have a higher content in proteins, minerals and vitamins than the stems (Goliński and Golińska, 2008;Ketterings et al, 2008;Lamb et al, 2003Lamb et al, , 2007Rimi et al, 2010;Samuil et al, 2012;Tyrolová and Výborná, 2008;Vasileva, 2013).…”

The Use of Probiotic Strains as Silage Inoculants

“…There is a lack of WSC in crops wilted for long periods [74]. Low concentrations of WSC in herbage, even in inoculated ones, can lead to a decrease in silage quality [75,76].…”

Nutritive value of Trifolium pratense L. for ruminants estimated from in situ ruminal degradation of neutral detergent fibre and in vivo digestibility of organic matter and energy

“…Feed quality, and therefore ruminal degradability, is influenced by several factors, with the most important stage of maturity of forage, forage species, environmental effects (location in combination with temperatures and precipitation), agronomic management, site of growth, and processing such as treatment and preservation (Pozdíšek and Vaculová, 2008;Tyrolová and Výborná, 2008;Jančík et al, 2009). Different patterns of maturation in forage species have a profound effect on animal performance in ruminants (Hetta et al, 2004).…”