FERMENTATION STUDIES ON LUCERNE

Two experiments are reported. In the first, lucerne grown on replicated plots treated with and without nitrogenous fertiliser was ensiled in laboratory silos (capacity 1.2 kg) before and after being wilted for 24 h. The water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content of the lucerne decreased significantly after wilting in both treatments, but application of nitrogenous fertiliser did not depress the WSC content. None of the resultant silages was well preserved. In a second experiment using a second cut of lucerne, the following treatments were used: molasses, formic acid, sodium metabisulphite, and wilting. Of these, only material treated with either molasses or formic acid was preserved satisfactorily. In both experiments, changes in organic acids and buffering values are given. Copyright © 1969 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd