Effect of Ammonia (Urea) Treatment of Baled Wheat Straw on its Nutritive Value

A new method utilizing drip irrigation emitters for application of urea solution into rectangular bales of paddy and wheat straw showed best results with specific application rate of 1125 cm³ per kg straw DM and applicator discharge rate of 1000 cm³ per min. for a bed depth of three bales. About 0.32 tonne of baled wheat straw having initial moisture content and bulk density of 7% (w.b.) and 100 kg/m³, respectively was treated at a rate of 50 g urea per kg straw DM. The treated bales were stored in an airtight polythene covered stack for 28 days. At the end of curing period the moisture content of the core of a bale was significantly (P<0.05) less than that of its sides. Ammonia (urea) treatment of baled straw improved (P<0.05) its in-situ DMD from an= initial value of 50.16% to 56.02%. The average in-situ DMD was higher (P<0.05) for higher moisture content and was 57.33’% for a bale with maximum moisture content of 40.50% but was 53.16% for a bale with minimum moisture content of 27.75%. There was no significant (P<0.05) variation in in-situ DMD of the samples taken from core and the sides of a bate. The CV content increased from 3.73% (untreated) to 13.42% and was not significantly affected by the moisture content of straw.