Extension, Cooperative

 

Authors

L. W. Chase

Date of this Version

6-30-1917

Document Type

Article

Citation

Chase, L.W. (1917). Measuring silage and capacity of silos (University of Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station Circular No. 1)

Comments

ISSN 0099-5460 (print)

ISSN 2690-8034 (online)

Abstract

The condition of the corn at filling time, the rate of filling, and the length of time settling has taken place before measuring the depth of the silage, all tend to cause variations in the weight per cubic foot of the silage and in the tonnage that can be placed in a silo. The greatest variation comes when very green corn or very ripe corn is used, and because of this it is possible that a cubic foot of green silage, which may weigh fifty pounds, holds no more dry matter than a cubic foot of overripe silage which weighs only about twenty-five pounds. Since this condition exists, measuring silage may get as close to the actual food value per cubic foot as weighing does per ton, if it is possible to get a reliable standard for measuring it. An inspection of the weights of silage put into the various silos on the University Farm the last few years discloses a great variation in the tonnage which it is possible to put into a silo when the filling is carried on under different conditions. Though these weights may vary a great deal from the theoretical capacity, the average of all the silos approaches it very closely.

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