Effect of Storage and Fermentation Temperature on Aerobic Stability of Whole-Plant Maize Silage

As temperatures rise worldwide, the effects of ensiling and storage temperature on silage need to be elucidated. In this paper, we aim to illuminate the effect the storage temperature has on the aerobic stability of whole-plant maize silage. The study was designed to identify the effect that temperatures of 23 °C and 33 °C have on untreated or maize silage inoculated with a biological additive. Furthermore, the study elucidates how temperature affects the ensiling phase of untreated maize silage. The silage was incorporated into the novel nine-sample live measuring system, which enables us to constantly measure the temperature pH and oxygen content 10 cm behind the silo face. The second experiment proved that silage that was fermented and stored at 23 °C remained aerobically stable longer than silage fermented at 33 °C. Switching the variant from 33 °C during fermentation to 23 °C during storage resulted in aerobic stability matching that of silage continuously stored at 33 °C, with both differing significantly from the variant continuously stored at 23 °C. In the first experiment, it was demonstrated that the biological additive used in this study improved several indicators of aerobic stability independent of fermentation temperature.