Avaliação do processo e da qualidade bromatológica da silagem de milho.

Abstract

Ensiling is an essential technique for the conservation of forage, allowing preservation in anaerobic conditions through fermentation carried out by lactic acid bacteria, which reduce the pH of the ensiled mass. Several factors, such as the dry matter content, particle size and microbiological composition of the forage, directly influence the quality of the silage. Corn (Zea mays L.) is the most used crop for silage due to its high productivity and adaptability to the tropical climate. The development of genetically modified varieties and hybrids has brought additional benefits, such as pest resistance and increased nutritional value. However, silage quality can be compromised by inadequate storage, which allows oxygen to enter and affects anaerobic fermentation. This study aimed to monitor the ensiling process of corn and research the quality of the silage using urea, measure the production of phytomass per hectare and succinctly describe the anaerobic process of microorganisms acting in the silage. The research was carried out in the municipality of Nova Floresta, Paraíba, located in the Agreste Paraibano mesoregion and Curimataú Oeste microregion. The corn was sown on April 16, 2024, at the Montevideo site, Nova Floresta - Paraíba, using Brevant hybrid B2433PWU transgenic seeds. The corn ensiling process was carried out in accordance with appropriate technical recommendations, but the quality of the silage could not be assessed due to the delay that occurred in the laboratory procedures. The 0.54 ha cultivation area produced 13,800 kg of green phytomass for silage, which is equivalent to 25.5 tons per hectare.