Silage: Difference between revisions
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[[File:silage04.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Brick silo, but made of burned bricks, not CEBs]] | [[File:silage04.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Brick silo, but made of burned bricks, not CEBs]] | ||
Silage is the preservation of green fodder in a silo by means of | Silage is the preservation of green fodder in a silo by means of lacto-fermentation. It relies largely on lactobacilli, especially ''Lactobacillus plantarum'' and is thus similar to the way in which Sauerkraut and Kimchi are preserved. | ||
==Advantages and Disadvantages== | ==Advantages and Disadvantages== | ||
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* weedy harvest can be used, get rid of weed seeds in the process | * weedy harvest can be used, get rid of weed seeds in the process | ||
* large quantity of storage, keeps for years | * large quantity of storage, keeps for years | ||
* no need for further processing | * no need for further processing | ||
'''Disadvantages:''' | '''Disadvantages:''' | ||
* harvest is heavier than hay, meaning higher initial energy input is required | * harvest is heavier than hay, meaning that somewhat higher initial energy input is required | ||
* high weight and water content | * high weight and water content means that silage cannot be transported very far, therefore has low commercial value | ||
* equipment may be more expensive than that used for hay | * equipment may be more expensive than that used for hay | ||
* infrastructure for storage may have to be built (silo) | * infrastructure for storage may have to be built (silo) | ||
* when plastic sheets are used, there will be plastic waste that has to be recycled. | * when plastic sheets are used, there will be plastic waste that has to be recycled. | ||
* silage odor ! | * silage odor ! | ||
==Suitable feedstocks== | ==Suitable feedstocks== | ||
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==Applications and Product Ecology== | ==Applications and Product Ecology== | ||
* use as livestock '''fodder''' for ruminants (cattle, goats, sheep) | * the traditional use: as livestock '''fodder''' for ruminants (cattle, goats, sheep) | ||
* feedstock for anaerobic digester to make '''[[biogas]]''' (popular: corn silage) | * feedstock for anaerobic digester to make '''[[biogas]]''' (popular: corn silage) | ||
* '''[[ | * silage contains abundant '''lactic acid''' (duh!) - the basic feedstock for many biodegradable '''[http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Category:Bioplastics bioplastics such as PLA]'''. In a process [http://www.worldconstructionnetwork.com/news/utzanaich_converts_silage_into_plastic_090707/ described in this link,] silage is pressed and the liquid harvested for its amino acids and lactic acid. The remaining fibrous cake can still be used as fodder or as biomass for other uses (combustion, pyrolysis, biochar, perhaps as mulch ...). | ||
* ''' | * '''[[bioplastics]]''' are also needed to make silage bales or silage tubes | ||
* '''compressed earth bricks''' to build a permanent vertical silo | |||
* there is often a nitrogen-rich liquid that drains from larger silos. It can be used as '''liquid fertilizer''', for example in hydroponics, or to grow [[duckweed]]. | * there is often a nitrogen-rich liquid that drains from larger silos. It can be used as '''liquid fertilizer''', for example in hydroponics, or to grow [[duckweed]]. | ||
* filter any vented air through charcoal filter ([[biochar]]) to reduce smell | * filter any vented air through a charcoal filter ([[biochar]]) to reduce smell | ||
* (speculative, unproven:) is it possible to grow [http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Black_Soldier_Fly maggots] on silage ? ( | * (speculative, unproven:) is it possible to grow '''[http://openfarmtech.org/wiki/Black_Soldier_Fly maggots]''' on silage ? (use for aquaculture and as chicken/duck food) | ||
* silage may be suitable as a substrate for '''mushroom cultivation''' | |||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
* Wikipedia: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silage Silage] | * Wikipedia: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silage Silage] | ||
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid polylactic acid] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLA_film PLA shrink film] for packaging | |||
[[File:silage01.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Flat silo - the lactic fermentation process is finished after about 2 weeks]] | [[File:silage01.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Flat silo - the lactic fermentation process is finished after about 2 weeks]] | ||
[[File:silage02.jpg|350px|thumb|center|Silage in factory farm]] | [[File:silage02.jpg|350px|thumb|center|Silage in factory farm]] | ||
[[Category:Food and Agriculture]] | |||
[[Category:Energy]] | |||
[[Category:Biofuel]] | |||
[[Category:Bioplastics]] | |||
[[Category:Materials]] | |||
Revision as of 17:13, 19 January 2011
Silage is the preservation of green fodder in a silo by means of lacto-fermentation. It relies largely on lactobacilli, especially Lactobacillus plantarum and is thus similar to the way in which Sauerkraut and Kimchi are preserved.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages:
- weather at harvest time is largely irrelevant
(make hay while the sun shines) - often has better nutrient preservation than hay (=>happier cows)
- wide range of crops can be used (see below, "feedstocks")
- weedy harvest can be used, get rid of weed seeds in the process
- large quantity of storage, keeps for years
- no need for further processing
Disadvantages:
- harvest is heavier than hay, meaning that somewhat higher initial energy input is required
- high weight and water content means that silage cannot be transported very far, therefore has low commercial value
- equipment may be more expensive than that used for hay
- infrastructure for storage may have to be built (silo)
- when plastic sheets are used, there will be plastic waste that has to be recycled.
- silage odor !
Suitable feedstocks
grass crops, corn (maize), sorghum, cereals (wheat, oats), beans, clover, sunflowers, ...
Applications and Product Ecology
- the traditional use: as livestock fodder for ruminants (cattle, goats, sheep)
- feedstock for anaerobic digester to make biogas (popular: corn silage)
- silage contains abundant lactic acid (duh!) - the basic feedstock for many biodegradable bioplastics such as PLA. In a process described in this link, silage is pressed and the liquid harvested for its amino acids and lactic acid. The remaining fibrous cake can still be used as fodder or as biomass for other uses (combustion, pyrolysis, biochar, perhaps as mulch ...).
- bioplastics are also needed to make silage bales or silage tubes
- compressed earth bricks to build a permanent vertical silo
- there is often a nitrogen-rich liquid that drains from larger silos. It can be used as liquid fertilizer, for example in hydroponics, or to grow duckweed.
- filter any vented air through a charcoal filter (biochar) to reduce smell
- (speculative, unproven:) is it possible to grow maggots on silage ? (use for aquaculture and as chicken/duck food)
- silage may be suitable as a substrate for mushroom cultivation
Links
- Wikipedia: Silage
- polylactic acid and PLA shrink film for packaging
