Maize and grass mixture silage compaction with centrifugal direct-action vibrator

Abstract

The efficiency of silage compaction of the chopped mass of maize and grass mixtures by means of centrifugal direct-action vibrators was experimentally evaluated in the reported study. The results indicate that the layer of grass plant chaff undergoes intensive compaction for the duration of 5-10 min. The dependences of the density variation of maize and grass plant mixture mass on compaction duration were determined. After 20 min of maize compaction, both silage layers of 510 kg m-3 density (the density of the dry matter – 143 kg m-3) were achieved. Moreover, while mixture of maize and fodder goat's rue (3:1) was compacted, a high mixture density was reached as well. After 10 min of compaction, 474 kg m-3 (166 kg m-3 DM) density was obtained. Analysis of silage quality indicates that maize mixtures (fodder goat's rue (3:1) and maize - red clover (1:1) silage), which were compacted with centrifugal direct-action vibrator, meet the requirements for the high quality silage.