The ANOVA analysis suggests that storage losses varied
across particle size, bale wrap, and days in storage treatment.
Storage losses were lower when the particle size of switchgrass
baled decreased from full length to less than 2 cm. This
finding contradicts the hypothesis proposed by Chaoui and
Eckhoff [24] that larger particle sizes may be preferred for
feedstock stored outdoors because more surface of the feedstock
is exposed to weathering with a smaller particle size.
Our results imply that the condensed bales processed by the
stretch-wrap technology may provide sufficient protection to
prevent the smaller particle size from having greater storage
losses. Storing the bales in an anaerobic environment that
covers the entire bale with net and film reduced DM losses
relative to the aerobic storage environment protecting bales
using only a net wrap. A linear response function was found to
best fit the storage loss data and indicated that losses
increased with days in storage. Our findings suggest that
applying net and film wrap to switchgrass bales composed by
a particle size less than 2-cm can reduce DM losses during
storage. However, results also indicate that the price of
switchgrass was also important in choice of optimal storage
method for switchgrass.