Effects of a chemical additive on the fermentation, microbial communities, and aerobic stability of corn silage with or without air stress during storage

Abstract We evaluated the effects of a chemical additive on the microbial communities, fermentation profile, and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage with or without air stress during storage. Whole-plant corn was either untreated or treated with a chemical additive containing sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sodium nitrite at 2 or 3 liters/t of fresh forage weight. Ten individually treated and replicated silos (7.5 liters) were made for each treatment. Half of the silos remained sealed throughout a 63-d storage period, and the other half was subjected to air stress for 2 h/wk. The composition of the bacterial and fungal communities of fresh forage and silages untreated or treated with 2 liters/t of fresh forage weight was analyzed by Illumina Miseq sequencing. Treated silage had greater (P < 0.05) aerobic stability than untreated, even when subjected to air stress during storage, but the numbers of yeasts culturable on selective agar were not affected. However, the additive reduced the relative abundance (RA) of the lactating-assimilating yeast Candida tropicalis (P < 0.01). In air-stressed silages, untreated silage had a greater (P < 0.05) RA of Pichia kudriavzevii (also a lactate assimilator) than treated silage, whereas treated silage was dominated by Candida humilis, which is usually unable to assimilate lactate or assimilates it slowly. The additive improved the aerobic stability by specifically preventing the dominance of yeast species that can consume lactate and initiate aerobic spoilage. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that identifies the specific action of this additive on shifting the microbial communities in corn silage.

Download Full-text

An evaluation of the effectiveness of a chemical additive based on sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sodium nitrite on the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn silage

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2017-14006 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 101 (7) ◽

pp. 5949-5960 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Limin Kung ◽

Megan L. Smith ◽

Erica Benjamim da Silva ◽

Michelle C. Windle ◽

Thiago C. da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sodium Nitrite ◽

Sodium Benzoate ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Potassium Sorbate ◽

Chemical Additive ◽

Aerobic Stability

Download Full-text

Effects of a Dual-Purpose Inoculant on the Quality and Aerobic Stability of Corn Silage at the Laboratory and Field Scales

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11178257 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (17) ◽

pp. 8257

Author(s):

Hsiu-Ming Weng ◽

Li-Chen Kao ◽

Shu-Min Wang ◽

Chia-Sheng Chen ◽

Ting-Yu Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Growth ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Dual Purpose ◽

Application Rates ◽

Aerobic Stability ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Fermentation Profile ◽

The One ◽

Stability Time

This study investigated the effects of a dual-purpose inoculant (DPI) on the fermentation profile, nutritive value, and aerobic stability of silage. The inoculant effect was first examined with minisilos, and the results were later validated with 400-kg silo bales and a 40-t bunker silo. Briefly, whole-plant corn harvested at the one-half to two-thirds milk line stage was chopped and then treated with or without inoculant containing Lactobacillus plantarum LP1028 and Lactobacillus buchneri LBC1029 at application rates of 2.5 × 105 cfu and 5.0 × 105 cfu per gram of fresh forage, respectively. The results showed that applying DPI had no effect on the nutritive value in all trials. DPI inoculation also slowed yeast and mold growth in silage under aerobic exposure. Inoculation may double the aerobic stability time after 105 d of ensiling (53.25 vs. 113.20 h) in a bunker silo. This study successfully examined the effectiveness of DPI in minisilos, and the results were consistent when moving from the laboratory to the field. Applying DPI made the fermentation more heterolactic without compromising the silage nutritive value, and increasing acetic acid acted as an antifungal agent to inhibit spoilage microbial growth and improve silage aerobic stability.

Download Full-text

Succession of Microbial Communities of Corn Silage Inoculated with Heterofermentative Lactic Acid Bacteria from Ensiling to Aerobic Exposure

Fermentation ◽

10.3390/fermentation7040258 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 258

Author(s):

Hao Guan ◽

Qifan Ran ◽

Haiping Li ◽

Xinquan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Acetic Acid ◽

Lactic Acid ◽

Lactic Acid Bacteria ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Single Molecule ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Water Control ◽

Silage Fermentation ◽

Aerobic Stability ◽

Whole Plant

To further explore the effects of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on silage fermentation and aerobic stability, whole-plant corn at around the 1/2 milk-line stage was freshly chopped and ensiled in laboratory silos with deionized water (control), Lactobacillus buchneri (LB), or L. rhamnosus (LR). Each treatment was prepared in triplicate for 3, 14, and 60 d of fermentation, followed by 3 and 7 days of aerobic exposure. The dynamic changes in microbial community were studied by single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. The results showed that the two LAB inoculants altered the microbial communities in different ways. Succession from L. plantarum to L. buchneri and L. rhamnosus was observed in LB- and LR-treated silage, respectively. Both silages improved aerobic stability (82 and 78 h vs. 44 h) by occupying the microbial niche to produce higher levels of acetic acid at terminal fermentation. Because Acetobacter fabarum dominated in the silages after aerobic exposure, beta diversity dramatically decreased. In this study, a. fabarum was reported for the first time in silage and was related to aerobic spoilage. The two heterofermentative LAB produced acetic acid and improved the aerobic stability of the corn silage by occupying the microbial niche at terminal fermentation. Inoculated L. rhamnosus had a greater pH for a longer period of time after opening and less DM loss at day 7.

Download Full-text

Microbial Communities, Metabolites, Fermentation Quality and Aerobic Stability of Whole-Plant Corn Silage Collected from Family Farms in Desert Steppe of North China

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9050784 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 784

Author(s):

Chao Wang ◽

Lin Sun ◽

Haiwen Xu ◽

Na Na ◽

Guomei Yin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Bacterial Diversity ◽

Fungal Diversity ◽

North China ◽

Bacterial Species ◽

Fungal Species ◽

Family Farms ◽

Aerobic Stability ◽

Whole Plant ◽

Lactobacillus Kefiri

Whole-plant corn silages on family farms were sampled in Erdos (S1), Baotou (S2), Ulanqab (S3), and Hohhot (S4) in North China, after 300 d of ensiling. The microbial communities, metabolites, and aerobic stability were assessed. Lactobacillusbuchneri, Acinetobacter johnsonii, and unclassified Novosphingobium were present at greater abundances than others in S2 with greater bacterial diversity and metabolites. Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus parafarraginis, Lactobacillus kefiri, and unclassified Lactobacillus accounted for 84.5%, and 88.2%, and 98.3% of bacteria in S1, S3, and S4, respectively. The aerobic stability and fungal diversity were greater in S1 and S4 with greater abundances of unclassified Kazachstania, Kazachstania bulderi, Candida xylopsoci, unclassified Cladosporium, Rhizopus microspores, and Candida glabrata than other fungi. The abundances of unclassified Kazachstania in S2 and K. bulderi in S3 were 96.2% and 93.6%, respectively. The main bacterial species in S2 were L. buchneri, A. johnsonii, and unclassified Novosphingobium; Lactobacillus sp. dominated bacterial communities in S1, S3, and S4. The main fungal species in S1 and S4 were unclassified Kazachstania, K. bulderi, C. xylopsoci, unclassified Cladosporium, R. microspores, and C. glabrata; Kazachstania sp. dominated fungal communities in S2 and S3. The high bacterial diversity aided the accumulation of metabolites, and the broad fungal diversity improved the aerobic stability.

Download Full-text

Chemical characteristics, aerobic stability, and microbiological counts in corn silage re-ensiled with bacterial inoculant

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2018000900008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (9) ◽

pp. 1045-1052

Author(s):

Mateus Merlo Coelho ◽

Lúcio Carlos Gonçalves ◽

José Avelino Santos Rodrigues ◽

Kelly Moura Keller ◽

Gustavo Vinícius de Souza dos Anjos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Dry Matter Digestibility ◽

Aerobic Stability ◽

Whole Plant

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of re-ensiling and bacterial inoculation on the quality of corn silage. The experiment was carried out in a 2x2 factorial design with or without inoculant (association of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici), and with re-ensiling after 36 hours of aerobic exposure or only ensiling of the whole plant of 'BRS 1055' corn. The fermentative quality, nutritional parameters, dry matter losses, aerobic stability, and microbiological counts of silages were evaluated. Re-ensiling caused an increase of pH and in acetic acid and propionic acid concentrations, as well as in the dry matter (DM), crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber crude protein contents. Conversely, there was a reduction in the nonfiber carbohydrates concentration and in in vitro dry matter digestibility for the re-ensiled material. All changes were explained by the higher-effluent production and DM loss of re-ensiled material that was subjected to two compactions. Microbiology was not altered by the treatments. The use of inoculant altered ash content, but it did not influence other parameters. In contrast, re-ensiling after 36 hours of aerobic exposure caused a reduction in the nutritive value of corn silage and accentuated the DM losses.

Download Full-text

Effects of different bacterial inoculants on the fermentation and aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage

African Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5897/ajar11.1594 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Jianzhong Shi

Keyword(s):

Corn Silage ◽

Bacterial Inoculants ◽

Aerobic Stability ◽

Whole Plant

Download Full-text

Nutritional composition and aerobic stability of wheat and corn silages stored under different environmental conditions

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2018v39n1p253 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 253

Author(s):

Marcos Rogério Oliveira ◽

Antônio Vinícius Iank Bueno ◽

Guilherme Fernando Mattos Leão ◽

Mikael Neumann ◽

Clóves Cabreira Jobim

Keyword(s):

Acetic Acid ◽

Propionic Acid ◽

Butyric Acid ◽

Nutritional Quality ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Transgenic Corn ◽

Hybrid Corn ◽

Aerobic Stability ◽

Fermentation Profile

We aimed to evaluate nutritional quality, fermentation profile, aerobic stability, and dry matter losses in corn (Zea mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum 'BRS Umbu') silages. Treatments included uninoculated and inoculated (Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici, 1.0 × 105 UFC g-1) wheat silage, corn silage from a conventional hybrid and a transgenic hybrid. Nutritional quality and fermentation profile variables were tested in a completely randomized design. Means were compared using Tukey’s test at 5% significance. An aerobic stability trial was conducted in a factorial design with two silages (wheat × inoculated wheat; conventional hybrid corn × transgenic hybrid corn) and two temperatures (ambient temperature × controlled temperature at 24°C). Data were submitted to ANOVA and means were analyzed by the F test at 5% probability. Inoculation of wheat silage increased dry matter, organic matter, and total carbohydrates, but reduced crude protein by a dilution effect. Regarding the fermentation profile, inoculation reduced acetic acid and butyric acid content, whereas it increased propionic acid in wheat silage. Bt corn hybrid silage showed higher dry matter and lower neutral detergent fiber, whereas transgenic corn silage showed lower content of acetic acid, propionic acid, alcohol, and ammonia. Conversely, Bt hybrid silage showed higher butyric acid. Transgenic corn silage showed higher temperature than the conventional hybrid silage during aerobic exposure. Inoculated wheat silage experienced larger deterioration and dry matter losses during the aerobic stability trial. Temperature control worsened aerobic stability in all treatments, increasing dry matter losses and heating.

Download Full-text