The quality and chemical composition of Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. and lucerne silages

Abstract

The ensiling experiment with Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. was done in experimental silos with volumes of 60 dm(3) and organized as a three-factorial layout (2 x 2 x 2), where factor A was the vegetation phase of phacelia (the budding phase or the end of flowering phase), factor B was without or with lucerne, ratio 1 : 1, and factor C was phacelia without or with fertilizer, N = 45 kg ha(-1) Maize meal 5% was added to all silages. Silages from phacelia cut at the budding phase and at flowering, had on average lower pH values (5.37 : 5.89), lower lactic acid (26.47 : 60.53 g kg(-1) DM), lower acetic acid (59.57 : 73.72 g kg(-1) DM), and higher butyric acid (15.54 : 0.11 g kg(-1) SM), respectively. The addition of lucerne produced a high effect on acid content (P lt 0.05). Silages made from phacelia and lucerne had lower pH values (4.99 : 6.28), higher lactic acid (62.20 : 24.80 g kg(-1) DM) content, and contained no butyric acid (0.00 : 15.65 g kg(-1) DM). Nitrogen fertilization of phacelia had no effect on silage quality. The addition of lucerne increased the content of crude protein, and decreased the contents of crude fibre and ash. According to the DLG method (1997), ensiling the material after flowering produces better silage and improves its quality, while combining with lucerne improves the quality to an even greater extent.