The chemical composition and the preservation of sugar cane byproducts treated with 0, 1, 2 and 4% (N-ammonia in dry matter) using anhydrous ammonia, urea and ammonia sulfate, on a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design were studied. No alteration was observed in dry matter content of sugar cane bagasse in function of sources of ammonia. The sources of ammonia decreased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of sugar cane bagasse, however; only the ammonia sulfate decreased the NDF of sugar cane tops. The hemicellulose content of the byproducts was reduced by urea treatment in function of ammonia levels. The ammoniation with ammonia sulfate decreased the acid detergent fiber content, mainly of sugar cane tops. The cellulose content of bagasse decreased with the anhydrous ammonia treatment. The treatments increased crude protein contents of both byproducts, in function of ammonia levels. The ammonia sulfate decreased the acid detergent insoluble nitrogen content, and showed higher nitrogen retention (NR) in both byproducts. In the majority of the treatments, periods after the opening of the silo showed no alteration in the NR of the byproducts. The benefits of ammonia treatments persisted for 48 days for the bagasse and for 24 days for the sugar cane tops.
ammonia level; chemical treatment; ammonia source; silage
