The effect of different tillage methods on silage quality in second crop maize farming

The effect of different tillage methods on silage quality in second crop maize for silage was determined in this study. For this purpose, second crop maize was planted by using following tillage methods: 1. Direct drilling (no-till) (DRD) 2. Heavy duty disc harrow + pneumatic precision drill (DIS) 3. Plough + disc harrow + roller + pneumatic precision drill (PLO) 4. Rotary tiller + pneumatic precision drill (ROT) 5. Tillage combination + pneumatic precision drill (TIC) 6. Irrigation + Plough + disc harrow + roller + pneumatic precision drill (conventional) (CON) After harvesting, plant samples were filled into PVC silos (with three replication for each treatment) for fermentation and kept in these silos for 75 days. Significant statistical differences were found between treatments (tillage methods) according to pH, DM (dry matter), CA (crude ash), CF (crude fibre), WSC (waier soluble carbohydrate), NH3-N-3 and LAB (lactic acid batteries). Quality parameters in all treatments remained between the desired levels. No-tillage method with DRD and minimum tillage methods with ROT and TIC can be suggested.