Comparative studies on the efficiency of various biological silage additives for the ensiling of lucerne

Enzyme preparations, inoculants, molasses, sodium formate, urea as well as combinations thereof were tested for their efficiency in the ensiling of lucerne (Medicago varia). The experiments were carried out both on fresh plant material (180 g dry matter (DM)/kg) and wilted material obtained after graded times of wilting (28, 52 and 76 hours). Dry matter contents varied between 360 and 710 g/kg. Differentiated dry matter contents of this order are normal when lucerne is ensiled in plastic-wrapped big bales with varying periods of exposure in the field depending on the operational performance. The experiments were launched to test a large number of biological silage additives for their suitability as quality promoters in this conservation technique. Depending on dry matter content the additives were expected to produce differentiated results. On lower DM level especially molasses addition, also together with inoculants, improved fermentation. From about 500 gDM/kg upwards progressive mould development was observed, which was avoided reliably only by adding urea.