Grass silage making technology using vibratory thickening

Abstract

A vibratory device to thicken silage was designed and tested, experimental research was carried out using the device for thickening chopped mass of red clover and maize. Dependences of grass mass density variation on duration of thickening by the device and dependences of relative grass pressure on vibration fraquency have been examined and assessed. The research has showed that during vibratory thickening grass layer thickens intensively for 5-10 min and this vibrator is advisdable for thickening grass layers of 0,5-0,6 m thickness. Experimental research has established that red clover density of 350 kg/m³ can be acieved by centrifugal-undirected action vibrator. That is insufficient density for grass silage. This vibrator is much more efficient for maize thickening when nearly double mass density is acieved. Therefore, this type of vibrator is advisable for thickening of big stems plants such as maize and its mixture with red clower.