The effect of forage harvest date and inoculation on the yield and fermentation characteristics of narrow-leaved lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) when ensiled as a whole crop

A experiment was conducted during seasons of the year 2005, 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the effects of the stage of maturity and inoculant application on the fermentation quality of silage produced from narrow leaved lupin. The trial was carried out on the experimental farm in Gorzyñ, belonging to Poznañ University of Life Sciences (52° 33’53 N, 15° 53’42 E) in central part of Europe in Poland. A two-factor field experiment was carried out on narrow-leaved lupin cv. Zeus. The first factor was the green forage harvest dates (Cut 1 -at the flat pod stage, Cut 2 – at the stage of green ripe seeds), the other factor – silage inoculants: biological (strains of lactic acid bacteria), chemical (a mixture of organic acids) and a control object without inoculants. The silage raw material was closed in minisilos for 10 weeks. The crops had a fresh matter yield from 15.8 to 30.8 t ha⁻¹ corresponding to a dry matter yield from 2.2 to 8.8 t ha⁻¹. The dry matter content in unwilted forage per kilogram ranged from 178.8 to 233.8 g. 24-hour wilting caused an increase in dry matter content from 205.5 to 349.5 g kg⁻¹. Both inoculates improved the quality of silages, because they increased the number of lactic acid bacteria and decreased the number of unfavourable groups of bacteria. The narrow-leaved lupin can be used as a silage raw material, but before ensilage plants should be wilted and silage inoculants should be applied.