Effect of bacterial inoculants and their combination with enzymes and chemical additives on fermentation characteristics and ensiling period of maize silage

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate effect of bacterial inoculants and their combinations with exogenous enzymesand chemical additives on the fermentation characteristics of maize silage at various ensiling periods. Fivetreatments were prepared viz., bacterial inoculant Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) and Lactobacillus fermentum(LF) (control), combination of LP+LF with xylanase enzyme (X), combination of LP+LF with cellulase enzyme(C), combination of LP+LF with X+C and combination of LP+LF with propionic acid (PA). Among thetreatments, LP+LF+X+C additive treated silage had minimum dry matter loss throughout ensiling period.There was no significant difference in pH between LP+LF+X+C and LP+LF+X treated silage, but numericallypH value was lower in LP+LF+X+C treated silage. Lactic acid content significantly declined as ensiling periodprogresses but there was no significant difference among LP+LF+X+C, LP+LF+X treated silage and 15 , 25 th thdays of ensiling. Lactic acid to acetic acid ratio was significantly improved in LP+LF+X+C treated silage ascompared to other treatment combinations. The microbial count of silage was increased up to the 15 day of thensiling. This study concluded that desirable pH, lactic acid and flieg point required for good quality silagecould be achieved on 15 day of ensiling in silages treated with LP+LF+X+C and LP+LF+X additive thcombination.