The present study aimed to observe silages fermentation pattern elaborated with plant samples from the herbaceous stratum of two ecological ranches (SE-1 and SE-2) in the Caatinga area in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. The species presented in the stratum were identified by the classification of plants. To evaluate fermentation pattern, the herbaceous stratum were pricked in forage machine and, after homogenization, a part of it was exposed to sun in order to lose excess of water (wilted). In fresh and wilted samples, buffering capacity (BC) and soluble carbohydrate content in the DM were determined. In small PVC silos, 48 silages were made for each ecological ranch, which were opened after 3,7,14,21,28 and 35 stocked days to evaluate dry matters (DM) variations, pH and N-NH3. Variance and regression analyses were made for the studied characteristics. Significant wilted effect was observed in SE-1 silages. Regression analyses stimulated quadratic equations for DM and pH just for fresh silages. For SE-2 silages, the wilted exercised influence on the DM, but the regression analyses did not estimate equations for this characteristic. Related to pH, these equations were estimated: linear for fresh silages and quadratic for the wilted. Linear equations were obtained to the N-NH3 for both silages that were studied in the ranches. SE-1 silages did not present satisfactory fermentation, that probably happened because of the silage high humidity contents, as well as legumes participation. The wilted SE-2 silages presented satisfactory fermentation pattern.
herbaceous stratum; fermentation; semi-arid; silage
