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At what rate is anhydrous ammonia added to corn silage? Is there a problem adding anhydrous ammonia to very wet or excessively dry corn silage? When is anhydrous ammonia added to corn silage? What equipment is needed to add anhydrous ammonia to corn silage? Will anhydrous ammonia affect fermentation of corn silage? What precautions should be taken when applying anhydrous ammonia? |
Adding Anhydrous Ammonia to Corn Silage by Ronald T. SchulerBiological Systems Engineering Application of anhydrous ammonia (NH3) is a low cost method of adding non-protein-nitrogen to your corn silage. If you have a shortage of high protein feed, such as good quality alfalfa silage or hay, adding anhydrous ammonia to corn silage may be appropriate. Anhydrous
ammonia must be applied to corn silage before it enters storage. The crude
protein content of corn silage can be increased from 8% to 12% by adding
7-lbs of NH3 per ton of 65% moisture silage (assuming a 20% loss). This Focus
on Forage will discuss the procedure and precautions required for
adding anhydrous ammonia to corn silage. At what rate is anhydrous ammonia added to corn silage? The
recommended rate is 6–8 lbs NH3 per ton of silage (65% moisture content
silage). Adding more than 8-lbs results in excessive ammonia losses to the
atmosphere and has an adverse impact on the fermentation process. Adding
less than 6-lbs per ton is usually not cost effective. Is there a problem adding anhydrous ammonia to very wet or excessively dry corn silage? Yes, anhydrous ammonia
addition to dry corn silage (less than 60% moisture content) is often not
very effective because of volatilization and poor retention of ammonia in
the silage. Also, anhydrous ammonia addition to wet corn silage containing
greater than 70% moisture content can result in extensive loss of ammonia
in the seepage. What equipment is needed to add anhydrous ammonia to corn silage? Several pieces of
equipment are required to properly apply anhydrous ammonia at a correct
rate and in a safe manner. The key application component is the cold flow
converter. This device converts the high-pressure liquid ammonia to a
low-pressure gas. Another important
component is a meter to measure the flow of anhydrous ammonia. With a
properly functioning application meter, the rate can be adjusted to match
the amount of silage being treated. The remaining components
consist of a high-pressure tank, high-pressure release valve, shut-off
valve and high-pressure hoses. For application with a forage harvester,
quick release hose fittings are needed if the tank is carried on a
separate wagon or running gear. The tank can also be transported mounted
on the tractor or self-propelled harvester. Will anhydrous ammonia affect fermentation of corn silage? Addition of
anhydrous ammonia to corn silage alters the fermentation of corn silage.
Anhydrous ammonia is basic in nature and immediately after application
will elevate the pH of corn silage. Afterwards the pH slowly
declines via normal fermentation but fermentation will not be as extensive
as untreated corn silage. Because of a less extensive fermentation some
research has demonstrated a higher DM loss associated with adding
anhydrous ammonia to corn silage. Anhydrous ammonia however has excellent
anti-fungal properties and can effectively reduce yeast and mold
populations within the silage. As a result, anhydrous treated corn silage
often has better bunklife and reduced DM loss at feedout. What precautions should be taken when applying anhydrous ammonia? Anhydrous ammonia causes severe burns when it comes in contact with skin. Operators should wear protective clothing to insure that anhydrous ammonia does not come in direct contact with skin. There should always be a clean supply of water readily available for flushing off and cleaning accidentally exposed skin. Precautions should be
taken to protect against exposing skin to anhydrous ammonia when
assembling equipment and applying product. Operators should wear a
full-face shield, heavy-duty long sleeve clothing, rubber gloves and
heavy-duty shoes for optimum protection. |
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