Effect of Treatment and Cultivar on the Ensiling of Corn Stover
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The Department of Agronomy seeks to teach the study of the farm-field, its crops, and its science and management. It originally consisted of three sub-departments to do this: Soils, Farm-Crops, and Agricultural Engineering (which became its own department in 1907). Today, the department teaches crop sciences and breeding, soil sciences, meteorology, agroecology, and biotechnology.
History
The Department of Agronomy was formed in 1902. From 1917 to 1935 it was known as the Department of Farm Crops and Soils.
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1902–present
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- Department of Farm Crops and Soils (1917–1935)
Related Units
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (parent college)
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Abstract
Nine cultivars of corn stover selected for ethanol potential were harvested (34 to 40% dry matter) and each ensiled with six treatments: untreated, lactic acid bacteria, cell-wall degrading enzymes, sulfuric acid, bacteria-enzyme combination and enzyme-acid combination. Ensiling was carried out in vacuum-sealed bags at ~22°C for 60 d. The untreated stovers ensiled well. Lactic acid bacteria and enzyme treatments had no effect on pH, but the bacteria-enzyme combination lowered pH in some cultivars. The acid and acid-enzyme treatments had low pH values ranging from 1.3 to 1.5. Lactic acid was generally highest in the bacteria-enzyme treatment whereas acetic acid was highest for the acid treatments. The acid treatments substantially reduced hemicellulose. Potential ethanol yield on average was highest in the bacteria-enzyme treatments.
Comments
This paper was written for presentation at the 2008 ASABE Annual International Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island, June 29-July 2, 2008.