This experiment was aimed at evaluating the effect of corn grain maturity and air exposure time prior to ensiling on the pH and nitrogenous fractions of corn silage from corn crop planted late in the season. A completely randomized 2 x 4 factorial arrangement was used to test the effect of two maturity stages at harvest (GL, milky kernel and GF, ½ milky ½ dough kernel) of maize crops and the effects of four periods of air exposure of chopped materials (zero, 12, 24 and 36 hours) previous to packing in mini-silos, on pH and N fractions of silages. There was a significant effect (P<0.05) related to stage of maturity and period of air exposure concerning the contents of crude protein and neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen, as well as an interaction between the main effects for ammonia nitrogen and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen. Due to the interaction, the maize silage harvested at the milky kernel stage resulted in higher pH value and ammonia nitrogen contents. A delayed packing procedure increases the insoluble nitrogen fractions and may affect negatively protein digestibility.
nitrogen; ammonia nitrogen; ADIN; NDIN; pH; crude protein
