Effect of Compacting and Ensiling on Stabilization of Sweet Sorghum Bagasse

Sweet sorghum bagasse is the solid fibrous product that remains after sweet sorghum stalks are crushed to remove juice. It can be reapplied to the field to enhance the productivity of subsequent crops as a soil amendment. The majority of sweet sorghum bagasse remains underutilized because more is produced than can be practically applied to fields. Accumulation of bagasse is increasing due to increased sweet sorghum production for the primary product, juice. The by-product, bagasse, has potential for novel uses, but it must be stabilized for conversion outside harvest season. It is not feasible to process bagasse while time and equipment are invested in harvesting the mature crop. This study determined whether compacting and ensiling sweet sorghum bagasse prevented degradation for processing after harvesting, when resources are available in more amount. It was found that ensiling bagasse limited microbial degradation of the material and stabilized the physicochemical properties that will be beneficial for fuel, feed, and other uses.