Abstract
The course of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) after ensiling was investigated to know the effects of wilting and molasses addition on silage fermentation by using 900ml laboratory glass bottle silos. In the 1st experiment, the moisture content of the grass decreased from 87.6 to 81.3% during 6 hours wilting. The pH value of silage made from the direct cut grass decreased to 4.21 on the 2nd day after ensiling, while in the wilted grass, it was gradually decreased to 4.18 toward the 14th day. In the 2nd experiment, the grass wilted for 2 days was 71.1% moisture and pH value of the silage was above 4.5 during 35 days experimental period. The wilted grass to which 4% molasses was added decreased the pH value to 4.1 on the 7th day and to 3.8 on the 28th day after ensiling. There was a negative relationship between lactic acid content and pH value of the silages. All the silages mainly produced lactic acid rather than acetic acid, nevertheless napier grass is a tropical grass.
