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Silage making involves the activity of anaerobic bacteria - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question a - 2014
Question a
Silage making involves the activity of anaerobic bacteria. (i) Explain the term anaerobic. (ii) Name two species of bacteria that may be involved in silage making.... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Silage making involves the activity of anaerobic bacteria - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question a - 2014
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Describe two ways of ensuring anaerobic conditions in the silage pit.
Answer
- Rolling or Quick Filling: Quickly filling the silage pit helps to minimize the exposure of the material to air by compressing the contents.
- Covering and Avoiding Air Pockets: After filling, covering the silage with a tarp or using tyres on top helps to seal the air out, preventing aerobic bacteria from entering.
Step 4
Describe an experiment to show the presence of bacteria in a sample of silage.
Answer
To demonstrate the presence of bacteria in silage, take two sterile agar plates and use a flaming loop to transfer a sample of the silage onto one plate. Leave the other plate as a control. Seal both plates and incubate them in an oven set to 20–30°C for 2–3 days. After incubation, examine the plates; the bacteria from the silage will appear as shiny spots, while the control plate will show an absence of spots.