Application of poultry litter and moisture effects on rye–ryegrass–fescue baleage

Abstract

AbstractSubsurface poultry litter application improves nutrient utilization compared with surface application through reduced nutrient runoff, and increased forage nutritive value. This study compared the effects of subsurface (SUB) or surface (SURF) poultry litter application against controls (CON; no litter) for baled silages made at high moisture (HM) or low moisture at (LM) Booneville, AR, in 2018. Mixtures of cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), and tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons.] baled silages were compared for nutritive value and silage fermentation characteristics. Data were analyzed as a split‐plot design with three fertilizer treatments as whole plots, and initial bale moisture as subplots. Pre‐ensiled P and K were greater (P < .05) for the mean of SURF and SUB than for CON. Neutral detergent fiber was greater (P = .02) in CON versus the mean of SURF and SUB. In post‐ensiled bales, propionic (P < .05) and succinic acid (P < .05) concentrations were greater in the mean of SURF and SUB than in CON, and greater in SUB than in SURF. Moisture had positive (P < 0.05) relationships with fermentation acids, and negative relationships with pH, water‐soluble carbohydrates, and starch. Overall, very few differences between SUB and SURF were detected, baleage nutritive value was not improved with SUB poultry litter application, and fermentation characteristics were most affected by the initial bale moisture.