Best Crops for Hay and Silage Making

Correct Answer: Oat and Maize

Best crops for fodder preservation:

• Best crop for Hay = Oat (Avena sativa): Oat has thin hollow stems and leafy nature — ideal for rapid drying. Best legume hay is prepared with Lucerne (Medicago sativa / alfalfa).
• Best crop for Silage = Maize (Zea mays): Maize has thick stems with high soluble carbohydrate content, ideal for lactic acid fermentation during ensiling.

Botanical Names to Remember

• Oat = Avena sativa
• Maize = Zea mays
• Lucerne = Medicago sativa
• Berseem = Trifolium alexandrinum
• Subabul = Leucaena leucocephala

Why These Crops?

• Hay crops: leafy, thin stems → dry rapidly
• Silage crops: thick stems, rich in soluble sugars → ferment readily