Efeitos da inclusão de forragem de leucena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) DeWit) na qualidade da silagem de milho (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

This assay was conducted at the Department of Animal Science of the University Federal of Lavras with the objective to evaluate the effects of the addition of growing levels of leucaena forage (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) DeWit) in the nutritive value of the corn silage (Zea mays L.). The experimental design used was the completely randomized with five treatments and three replicates. The treatments consisted of corn silage with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% of leucaena forage. The material remained ensiled for 30 days in experimental silos of PVC tubes. The values of pH and buffering power (BP) and the contents of DM, CP, NDF, ADF and ammonium nitrogen (N-NH3) were determined. The dry matter contend of the silages was not affected by addition of leucaena. The increase in the ratio of leucaena resulted into a positive linear effect on the values of pH, BP, PB and N-NH3, and a negative effect on the contents of NDF and ADF. The addition of up to 40% of leucaena forage in the mixture of the silage is a viable alternative to the improvement of the nutritive value of corn silage.