Water Soluble Carbohydrates in Forage Crops and Their Relation to the Production of Silage

Abstract

Leguminous and non-leguminous plants were collected and were analyzed for their water-soluble carbohydrates. Plants of different stages of maturity were collected. They were taken around midday and the analysis started immediately. The tabulated results show the percentages of fermentable carbohydrates in the sap of the plant, in the fresh and dry weight of the plant and in the moisture calculated for each sample to a uniform basis of 80 per cent. Notes that might have some bearing on the production of silage from these crops were made. The wide difference in the water-soluble carbohydrates of these two types of forage crops suggested that the legumes are deficient in fermentable carbohydrates and thus fail to produce a silage of satisfactory quality. Acting on this suggestion, silages were made by supplementing the fermentable sugars in the legumes with sueh substances as corn sugar and molasses. Since these carbohydrates are converted into organic acids both organic and mineral acids were also employed to reduce the pH of the freshly cut material to a point which reduced materially the microbial activity. It was found that silages of superior quality could be made by these methods. In the discussion it was suggested that phosphoric acid might be employed profitably to preserve the fodders; to increase the phosphorus content for animals and to increase the fertilizing value of the farm manure. © 1937, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.