Silo pit: construction and installation

Silage is one of the most valuable varieties of feed for farm animals. During the summer period, cattle and MRS can receive a large amount of greenery in pastures. In the winter, such food is, of course, completely inaccessible. Here, then, the silage comes to the rescue of the cattle breeders. Represents this food with the same green mass, but it is conserved. His taste is sour, however, in terms of nutritional value, he considerably exceeds most other varieties of winter forages, including hay. Conserving the green mass in this way, mankind has learned for a very, very long time. Of course, prepare such a feed should be correct. For conservation, a silo or trench specially equipped for this purpose is used.

What plants can I use

More often silage is prepared from green mass of corn, melons, legumes, cereals and root crops. Sometimes these plant species are laid in pits separately. But more often farmers, containing farm animals, harvest thus combined feed.

In any case, the silo pit must be filled with a well-prepared green mass. In order for conservation to be as successful as possible - without loss of food by the nutrient, the plants should be properly ground. The size of the pieces should be approximately 3-5 cm, depending on the crop being prepared.

Types of siloing

The green mass can be preserved in two ways: cold and hot. In the first case, all crushed plants are laid in the pit at once and rammed. Then the mixture is covered with a layer of clay. Sometimes a special film is used for silo pits. You can buy it from companies engaged in the manufacture of mulching and all kinds of agricultural cover materials. Over clay, usually a layer of earth is additionally poured. It is possible to close the pit, sealed with a film, in this way. However, in the latter case, this operation is not mandatory. Usually the film is simply pressed down with some weight. It can be, for example, even old car tires.

With hot silo, the bookmark is produced in batches. In this case, each layer is pre-conditioned for some time to warm up in a loose state. Then it is rammed. After this, the next layer is laid on top of it and also kept. In the end, under the weight of the upper layers, the lower ones are compacted. As a result, they begin to take place conservation processes (as a consequence of the vital activity of anaerobic bacteria).

Most often in farms, the first method of ensiling is used. First, it differs in technological simplicity, and secondly, with this method, the most nutrients are stored in the feed. The hot silo technique is applied only when it is necessary to preserve the coarse-fiber green mass. In the process of conservation, the latter becomes much softer, as a result of which it is better eaten by animals.

Silo pit: basic principles of the device

Sometimes the green mass of plants can be preserved in special towers. Thus, mainly large agricultural enterprises enter. Ordinary farmers, as well as owners of farmsteads, spend silage in pits or trenches. Of course, when developing such storage facilities, certain technologies should be observed. Before the start of the work you need to determine the size of the pit. So, for example, its capacity can be 12-35 m ³ . Depending on this, a total of 7-20 tons of silage is obtained. The depth of the pit can be, for example, 2.5-3.5 m at a diameter of 2-3 m. The length of the trench should not exceed 20 m. Its maximum capacity is 180 m ³ (for 100 t).

Silos pits and trenches are allowed only on dense clay soils. And, of course, in places where groundwater does not approach the surface of the earth too closely. It is best to make a pit or trench on some elevation, and as close as possible to the cattle or MRS stall.

Materials for the pit

In order to make storage for silage, you need to prepare the following materials:

• Clay for bottom seals and clogging (can be replaced with material such as silage cover);
• Bricks for facing (can be replaced with cement mortar);
• Board and beam for the arrangement of the canopy.

Storing storage

Before starting the excavation work, the area allocated under the pit should be leveled. Then the excavation is carried out. At home, this work can be done manually. Farmers use for this, of course, special equipment. In any case, the bottom of the excavated pit must have a slight slope toward the center.

Facing the storage facility is to ensure that it does not get water from the ground. The first thing you need to impose a brick or pour cement (in the assembled formwork with reinforcement) of the pit wall. Then the bottom of the storage is waterproofed. You can use clay for this. But it's better, of course, for this, a more modern material. The film of the silo pit is laid on the bottom with an overlap. Further, on top of it, brickwork is carried out in one layer. You can also pour a concrete thick screed on the bottom of the pit. The binding solution for masonry according to specifications is supposed to be cooked in a proportion of 1: 2. To fill the walls and the bottom with concrete, it will be enough to mix sand and cement in the proportion 1: 3-1: 4. For small pits, metal drums or concrete well rings can be used as lining .

Bookmark the mass

After the silage hole is ready (approximately two weeks after the end of the works), it is filled with cut greens for the chosen technology. As soon as approximately 20-30 cm of the storage space is left to the surface of the earth, a blockage is made. To do this, first use a film or clay, and then - earth or load.

Building a canopy

The construction of the silo pit is completed with the arrangement of the roof. This design is necessary to protect the storage from rain in late autumn and spring. It is mounted from pre-assembled wooden boards. You can install the canopy on the usual supports from the log, dug in the ground. The lower ends of the latter should be treated with bitumen prior to installation. Use of drying oil or used engine oil is not desirable.

In this way silos are being settled. As you can see, the procedure is technologically quite simple. The main thing is to try to prevent water from penetrating the green mass from the ground or air. In any case, a silage pit, created by oneself, is simply an excellent way to get the best quality feed for farm animals in the winter.