Silage dry matter content and predicted effluent production in England and Wales 1984-1994.

摘要

The amount of silage and silage effluent produced from grass, maize and arable crops in England and Wales in 1984-94 is quantified. Total amount of silage produced was 25.30 Mt in 1984 (97.5% grass, 2.5% maize) and 37.55 Mt in 1994 (90.9% grass, 7.8% maize and 1.3% arable crops). Of grass silage, in 1984 60.4% was first cut, 27.9% 2nd cut, 4.7% 3rd cut (bunker-made), and 7.0% made in bales; corresponding proportions in 1994 were 53.3, 24.5, 3.1 and 18.1%. Mean dry matter (DM) contents of bunker-made grass silage were 241, 260 and 243 g/kg, respectively, while big bale silage had a DM content of 324 g/kg and the values for maize and arable silage were 307 and 458 g/kg. Effluent production was calculated according to the equation of Bastiman, and ranged from 497 Ml in the drought year of 1989 to 1464 Ml in the wet season of 1993. Most effluent was produced in western regions. Silage production, DM content and effluent production are tabulated by year and region, while the effects of silage additives are tabulated by year.