1 , I o ^ 



'fl^n^ OBSERVATIONS Oil TliE STOMGE OF GR.^SS SILAGE ^ 



no, n^ 



H. E, Besle^/ and J, R, IlcCalmont 



L I B R A^~: Y 

 .) RECEIVED 



* DEC 5 h4\ 'k 

 by I 



/ 2 N J U. S. Departmefit of Agrictiture 



Grass silage has been defined as silage iriade from any uncured hay or 

 forage crop. Its use has become mdespread during the past few years and, 



as a resu.lt, some problems have arisen that require engineering research for 

 solution. 



Silo deterioration and failures brought demands from fprmers for 

 assistance, and to meet this demand an investigation was instigated at the 

 New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station in 1937 with the cooperation of 

 the Bureau of Agricultural Chemistry and Engineering, United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, to measure the pressures exerted on silo v/alls hy grass 

 silage. The project has novf been expanded to include investigations on juice 

 control, protection of silos from the action of silage acids, and harvesting 

 methods and machinery* This expansion has been materially asristed by a 

 research grant made jointly by the .'uaericr.n Steel and Wire Company v/itli the 

 Carnegie-Illinois Steel Company, the National Association of Silo Manufacturers 

 and the Portland Cement Association, 



The term "silo failure" as used in the preceeding paragraph has added 

 significance. In the po.st when a silo failed it burst, ilow that leakage is 

 more prevalent, farmers have become juice conscious foid are demanding silos 

 thci.t vj-ill not leak. The term "failure" then has gained broader meaning and a 

 silo mey be said to fril not only if it bursts but also if it leaks, deterio*^ 

 rates or disintegrates* Tliile this definition may not be universally ac- 

 cepted, it does indicate a condition that must be met in silo design. 



Juice Control 



The juice in grass silage presents a sort of "poly-phase" problem. 

 In high-moisture silage it may, and frequently does, leak or drain from, the 

 silo causing offensive odors, damage to rny concrete or metal reinforcing 

 over Y.rhich it flows, and some loss of nutrients. Its control may bo ap- 

 proached in several v/ays. One is to wilt the green crop in the field until 

 its moisture content is lovrcred to betAvoen 65 rnd 70 per cent. Reports from 

 farmers indicate some success v.lth this method but consider? ,ble experience 

 is required to determine v/hcn wilting hr.s progressed to the proper stage. 

 Wilting is also dependent on favorable v/cathor, o.nd the introduction of a 

 fair weather f!\ctor in the production of grass silage is not desirable. 



(1) Presented at the Tv/enty-Eighth Annual Convention, I'lational Association 

 of Silo Manufacturers, Chicago, December 2, and the meeting of the 

 American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Chicago, December 4, 1940, 



(2) Assistant Agricultural Engineer, 'i^ovr Jersey Agricultural Experiment 

 Station rnd Assistant Agricultm^rl Engineer, B\.\ror'u of Agricultural 

 Chemistry and Engineerin?:, U, S, Dopart:Tiont of Agriciilture, respectively. 



