SILAGE INVESTIGATIONS AT BANGALORE                   265

The percentage composition of the samples ensiled, as well as of the silage pro-
duced, is given in Tables VIII to XI. The changes affecting the entire contents of
the experimental bags in all the various constituents may be gathered from Tables
XII to XV.

                           B. Changes in the Nitrogenous Constituents.

That considerable changes take place in the proteins of plants during ensilage
is too well known to be emphasised. Not only is the quantity of protein liable
to be changed, but also the quality, to a very large extent. Whereas a loss of
8.4 per cent. of the crude protein was noticed in the previous experiment, in the
present case there are wide variations. No. 1 pit shows an average loss of 5 per
cent., No. 2 an average gain of 2.2 per cent. and No. 3 pit, an average loss of less
than 1 per cent. Pit No. 4 shows an increase of 13.3 per cent. There is little
doubt that this exceptional result is due to leaching down of soluble nitrogenous
material from the surface mass of organic matter destroyed. It may be noted that
a similar explanation was offered for the apparently small loss of dry matter in
this pit.

An uniformly large decomposition of true protein takes place on ensilage. The
losses of true protein are very considerable, and taking the reasonable view that
the most easily available portion of it — which must evidently be the most valu-
able — is the quota lost, it is clear that the resultant protein must certainly be
far less digestible than the protein of the green plant. Such has also been the
experience, without a single exception, of the Nutrition Section at Bangalore, with
silage rations.

The percentage losses of true protein on ensilage are fairly uniform (Tables
XII to XV), except in bag No. 19 where there was a slight increase of 2.2 per cent.
A comparison of the figures for the different pits shows that watering, as well as
rapid filling, tend to increase the loss of this constituent. The average loss for all
the pits works out to 29.0 per cent. which is slightly more than that noted in the
previous experiment.

A better idea of the extent of the decomposition of true protein on ensilage is
given by a study of Table XVI, which gives the percentage ratio of true to crude
protein before and after ensilage. The average for the four pits shows that the
proportion is reduced from 72.46 per cent. to 50.06 per cent. on ensilage. The loss
of true protein is seen in the increase of " Amides " (Tables XII to XV). The
average increase of this constituent, for all pits, is 81.4 per cent. The increase in
" Amides " is proportional to the loss of true protein.

The changes in the nature and extent of the important decomposition products
of protein, viz., amino acids and volatile bases, as well as of asparagin, is given in