The nitrate content of silage
1993
Maesalu, M. (Institute of Animal Breeding and Veterinary Science, Tartu (Estonia))
The paper presents the results of fertilizing and laboratory ensilaging studies. Three field experiment plots with different backgrounds of mineral nitrogen fertilizer were studied, whereas the following average quantities of 0, 300, and 450 kg N/ha were applied in three equal amounts. The results of the studies indicated that the content of nitrates in silage varied from 1.8 to 18.0 g/kg DM, depending on the amount of applied nitrogen and cut. The protein and nitrate content increased in accordance with the increase of mineral nitrogen. It reached the maximum level in the grass cut in summer whereas at the end of summer the highest amount of nitrogen was applied. In ensilaging process of nitrate-rich grass (18.0 g/kg DM) 48.3 and 40.6 per cent of the primary nitrates were lost, whereas 9.3 and 10.7 g NO/kg DM still remained in silage. This might be dangerous to the health of cattle fed large amounts of silage
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