Two technologies of low-stem green forage harvesting and conservation, performed with the use of a fix chamber rolling round baler and also a big rectangular baler, were analysed and evaluated. Various methods of storing plant material provided for silage were considered: wrapping of single cylindrical bales, and loading them into foil bags, storing the rectangular bales in a prism, and loading them into foil bags. The results of simulation study showed the lowest unitary costs of silage preparation were obtained at technology involving the big rectangular baler and storing of the bales in a prism, while the highest were the costs at storing cylindrical bales in the foil bags.
Various methods of green forage ensiling, storage and air-tight protection were analysed in respect of occuring losses. The losses of nutrients connected with fermentation, silage effiuents, boundary and secondary fermentation were considered. Some exemplary results of qualitative testing the silage in form of bales and chaff were given.
Paper analysed and evaluated the losses of green forage caused by the machines in field operations at harvesting for silage. The values of losses were quoted on the basis of literature data as well as the requirements of Agricultural Machinery System. The values of forage losses were considered as affected by various factors, such as construction of working assemblies in used machine or device, selection of operating parameters, kind and moisture content of processed plant material.