Research projects

    Opto-chemical detection of oxygen concentration in silage

    Resch Reinhard, Ing.

    Ing. Reinhard Resch

    Head of analytics and feed evaluation department

    Opto-chemical detection of the oxygen concentration in silages with special consideration of the factors fermentation substrate, DM content, compaction and chop length

    After the successful pilot project 101073, the cooperation project between HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and Joanneum Research aims to design a measurement setup that enables the dynamic recording of the oxygen concentration at several measuring points and different silage variants. This is intended to improve the level of knowledge about the rate of oxygen respiration in the beginning fermentation process and an indirect view of the microbial or fermentative activity. The question of the rate of penetration of atmospheric oxygen into fermented silage and the associated temperature increase and silage spoilage after the silo is opened should be answered.

    • The opto-chemical detection of the oxygen concentration in silages is carried out under the influence of important factors such as DM content, compaction, chop length and fermentation substrate.
    • Using an opto-chemical process, the oxygen content is measured from the time of sealing until after the silo has been opened using two methods: “Sensor variant 1” - superficial and non-invasive measurement using printed sensor stickers. Measure directly under the wrapping film or under the glass of a mason jar. “Sensor variant 2” - minimally invasive, fiber-optic measurement. Permanently records the depth profile of the oxygen concentration with appropriate instrumentation.
    • Thanks to “multiplexing”, the permanent measurement measurement can be carried out experimentally on 4 different silage variants and at a total of 4 measuring positions for each variant.


     

    further links

    Opto-chemical detection of oxygen concentration in silage

    Opto-chemical detection of oxygen concentration in silage

     HBLFA Raumberg

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    Application of optochemical methods to measure the oxygen concentration in the fermentation gas atmosphere of grass silage during the fermentation phase and under air stress after silo opening

    Resch Reinhard (2015)