Inoculants for Corn Silage

Various spoilage microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts and molds) readily grow on crops going into a silo, causing losses in dry matter and quality. To prevent these various microorganisms from growing, two conditions are needed in the silo: an oxygen-free (or anaerobic) environment and a low pH. Many of the oxygen-requiring (aerobic) microorganisms that heat the silage as well as causing losses cannot be stopped by low pH alone. These microorganisms can only be stopped by sealing the silo well to keep out air. On the other hand, bacteria responsible for poor fermentations such as clostridia are stopped by dropping the pH of the crop sufficiently to prevent their growth.