<b>Chemical composition and dry matter total losses of soybean plant silage</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v32i1.4897

Abstract

This trial was carried out to study the chemical composition and total DM losses of soybean silage at different reproductive stages. The work was divided in two evaluation periods: the 2005 and 2006 harvests. Four reproductive stages were determined (R3, R4, R5 and R6) as treatments in trial I (2005) and three reproductive stages (R5, R6 and R7) in trial II (2006). The material was conditioned in PVC experimental silos, and the samples were taken at the time the silo was opened (60 days after ensilage) to evaluate the chemical composition. In trial I, there were differences (p < 0.05) in the four reproductive stages for DM, ash, OM, CP, LIG, EE and BC. No differences were observed (p > 0.05) for NDF, ADF, NDIN, ADIN, CELL, total carbohydrate and pH. In trial II, the silages did not present differences (p > 0.05) for DM, ash, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, EE and total carbohydrate in function of the soybean harvest stage. The pH values, electric conductivity and buffering capacity of the silages were different (p < 0.05) among the reproductive stages. The advance of reproductive stage changes the nutritional value of whole-plant soybean silage. The water deficit adversely affects the suitable development of soybeans, where the protein value of silage is penalized.