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Ammonia and(or) calcium-hydroxide treatment of corn stover
Abstract
The effects of chemical treatment, reaction time and temperature on chemical composition and in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) of corn stover were investigated. The chemical treatments were NH$\sb3$, NH$\sb4$OH, urea, Ca(OH)$\sb2$ and the combination of Ca(OH)$\sb2$ with each source of ammonia. Chemical treatment of corn stover decreased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) by solubilizing hemicellulose. Increasing the temperature to 85 C further enhanced hemicellulose solubilization but decreased IVDMD of corn stover. Based on IVDMD, optimal conditions for chemical treatment appear to be 21 C for at least 7 days. Chemical treatment using the combination of Ca(OH)$\sb2$ with the different ammonia sources had an additive effect on IVDMD of corn stover. The optimum level of Ca(OH)$\sb2$ to combine with either NH$\sb3$ or urea in treating corn stover was determined. The addition of increasing levels of Ca(OH)$\sb2$ to ammoniated corn stover linearly decreased organic matter (OM), NDF, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and hemicellulose but linearly and quadratically increased in vitro organic matter disappearance. The optimum combination appears to be 4% Ca(OH)$\sb2$ with 3% NH$\sb3$ or 5% urea. The effect of treating corn stover with NH$\sb3$, urea, Ca(OH)$\sb2$ applied singly or in combination was evaluated in vivo. Chemical treatment increased (p $<$.05) intake of OM and digestible OM and digestibility of OM, NDF, ADF and hemicellulose. However, improvement in intake and digestibility of Ca(OH)$\sb2$-treated corn stover was variable which might be influenced by prevailing conditions during treatment. Chemical treatment increased (p $<$.05) rate of particulate passage and extent of cell wall digestion but had no significant effect on rate of fluid passage and fiber digestion rate. Reducing intake slowed rates of particulate and fluid passage with no significant difference between chemically-treated and untreated corn stover. Among the chemical treatments, NH$\sb3$ and urea consistently improved the feeding value of corn stover. The addition of Ca(OH)$\sb2$ to either NH$\sb3$ or urea is no better than using NH$\sb3$ or urea alone.
Subject Area
Livestock
Recommended Citation
Oliveros, Benito Averion, "Ammonia and(or) calcium-hydroxide treatment of corn stover" (1988). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8810326.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8810326