Inovações tecnológicas na produção de silagem para o semiárido brasileiro

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding two levels of soybean meal, associated or not to chemical additives (urea and chitosan) on the fermentation profile, bromatological composition and fermentative losses in forage palm silage (Opuntia fícus indica). It was used a completely randomized design with three replicates, in factorial scheme 3 × 3 × 5, corresponding to levels of soybean meal (FS: 0, 15 and 30% of natural matter, chemical additives: AS- U- with urea, QUI- with chitosan), and the 5 fermentation periods (3, 10, 45, 90 and 180 days). All material was ensiled in plastic buckets with busem valves. The addition of soybean meal to the level of 30% of the natural matter positively influences the fermentative pattern, forage palm silage stored for 180 days, and the chemical composition, in addition to reducing fermentative losses. The chitosan associated with soybean meal reduces fermentative losses of forage palm silage stored for 180 days. The addition of urea, in the level of 2% of the dry matter, negatively influences the fermentative pattern, independent of the association with soybean meal. However, when associated with soybean meal, at the addition level of 15% of natural matter, it promotes a reduction in the fermentative losses of palm silages stored for 180 days.