THE EFFECT OF APPLYING AMMONIA TO CORN, WHEAT, AND SORGHUM UPON ENSILING

The effect of ammonia on silage quality of three forage crops was stud ied under laboratory conditions. Ammonia was applied in commercial ope rations by the Cold-flo process to com, wheat, and sorghum upon ensila ge. The ammonia was applied at 5 kg/t fresh material. Samples of untre ated (control) and ammonia treated crops were ensiled in 1.5 L glass j ars. Three jars per treatment were sampled on predetermined dates, to study fermentation dynamics. Results indicated that ammonia absorption was better in the corn and sorghum silages than in the wheat. This wa s evident from the extent of pH increase during the initial stage of e nsiling and from an increase in nitrogen content. Ammonia treatment in creased in vitro DM digestibility and in situ rumen degradability of s orghum silage by 2-4 percentage units. Ammonia reduced numbers of yeas ts and molds only at the beginning of the ensiling period.