Silage studies. III. some characteristics of the silage microflora

Summary The microfloras in grass-legume silage of high and low quality have been investigated using small laboratory silos of special design.The development of the silage microfloras was followed by analyses at intervals by determination of the occurrence of the main groups bacteria and fungi as well as of lactic acid and proteolytic bacteria.Nearly all organisms occuring were isolated and the occurrence of the single types estimated.Physiological characteristics of the isolates such as acid production, proteolytic activity and antibioses against certain test organisms were investigated.The buffer capacity of chopped and macerated plant material before and after fermentation was determined.These studies are still in progress. I am indebted to the Swedish Foundation Fonden för främjande av forsknings-och försöksverksamheten på jordbrukets område for generous financial support. I also gratefully acknowledge the encouraging interest and support of ProfessorRagnar nilsson.