A note on sampling baled grass silage for fungal propagules.

摘要

The mould and yeast propagules from 10 bales of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) silage from the Irish Republic were determined in February 2003. Individual bales were sampled at eight positions. Samples were obtained at a depth of 20 cm using a sharpened cylindrical steel corer. It was shown that both mould and yeast propagule numbers varied greatly between and within bales. Yeast colony forming units showed significantly greater variability between than within bales. It is recommended that eight or more samples be taken per bale and then composited to provide one representative silage sample for microbiological analysis..