Evaluasi Kualitas Silase dengan Rasio Ukuran Partikel yang Berbeda Menggunakan Metode Modified Penn State Particle Separator

Abstract

Penelitian ini bertujuan mengevaluasi pengaruh perbedaan ukuran partikel dan distribusi ukuran partikel hasil cacahan rumput gajah (Pennisetum purpureum) menggunakan Modified Penn State Particle Separator terhadap kualitas silase. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) dengan tiga perlakuan dan empat ulangan, yaitu kombinasi ukuran partikel panjang (≥ 40 mm), sedang (20 mm), dan pendek (≤8 mm) dengan komposisi panjang:sedang:pendek (≥ 40 mm:20 mm:≤ 8 mm) P1 (10:50:40), P2 (20:60:20), dan P3 (30:70:0). Peubah yang diamati meliputi ukuran partikel dan distribusi ukuran partikel, karakteristik fisik silase, karakteristik fermentatif silase, serta kinerja mesin chopper. Data dianalisis menggunakan ANOVA dan uji lanjut Tukey pada taraf 5%. Perbedaan rasio ukuran partikel rumput gajah berpengaruh nyata terhadap distribusi ukuran partikel serta kualitas fermentatif silase meliputi Water Soluble Carbohydrates, kadar bahan kering, dan kehilangan bahan kering (P < 0,05), namun tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap kualitas fisik silase. Perlakuan P1 (10% panjang, 50% sedang, dan 40% pendek) menghasilkan kualitas fermentatif paling baik dari perlakuan lainnya.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different particle size and particle size distributions of chopped Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) determined using the Modified Penn State Particle Separator on silage quality. The study used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three treatments and four replications, consisting of combinations of long (≥ 40 mm), medium (20 mm), and short (≤ 8 mm) particle sizes with proportions long:medium:short (≥ 40 mm:20 mm:≤ 8 mm) of P1 (10:50:40), P2 (20:60:20), and P3 (30:70:0). The observed variables included particle size and particle size distribution, physical characteristics of silage, fermentative characteristics of silage, and chopper machine performance. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Tukey's test at a 5% significance level. The results showed that different particle size ratios significantly affected particle size distribution and silage fermentative quality, including water soluble carbohydrates, dry matter content, and dry matter loss (P<0.05), but had no significant effect on the physical quality of silage. Treatment P1 consisting of 10% long, 50% medium, and 40% short particles produced the best fermentative quality among all treatments.