Sweet sorghum is an important forage in arid and semi-arid climatic regions. This study aimed to reveal the fermentation weight loss (FWL), fermentation quality, and bacterial community of ensiling of sweet sorghum with lactic acid bacteria LAB; (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lentilactobacillus buchneri) at different silo densities. For this study, sweet sorghum was harvested at the first spikelet of inflorescence stage and ensiled without or with LAB (CK or L) in polyethylene laboratory-scale silos (diameter, 20 cm; height, 30 cm) at densities of 650 (CK_650 and L_650), 700 (CK_700 and L_700), and 750 kg/m3 (CK_750 and L_750), respectively. The FWL, fermentation quality, microbial counts, and bacterial community of the silage were assessed after 100 days of ensiling. L_750 had a lower FWL than CK_650, _700, and _750 after 100 days of ensiling (P < 0.005), and the FWL was affected by silo density and inoculating LAB (P < 0.005). All silages had low pH (<4.0) and ammonia nitrogen content (<50 g/kg total nitrogen) and did not contain propionic and butyric acids; moreover, inoculating LAB increased lactic and acetic acids (P < 0.005). Bacterial communities in inoculated and uninoculated silages were clustered together, respectively, and clearly separated from each other. The total abundance of Lactiplantibacillus and Lentilactobacillus in fresh forage was <1%. Lactiplantibacillus had the highest abundance in all silages (from 71.39 to 93.27%), followed by Lentilactobacillus (from 3.59 to 27.63%). Inoculating LAB increased the abundance of Lentilactobacillus in each silo density (P < 0.005) and decreased Lactiplantibacillus in the silage in densities of 700 and 750 kg/m3 (P < 0.005); moreover, increasing silo density decreased Lactiplantibacillus abundance and increased Lentilactobacillus abundance in inoculated silages (P < 0.005). Overall, sweet sorghum silage showed satisfactory fermentation quality, with a density of no <650 kg/m3, and inoculating LAB improved fermentation quality and reduced FWL. Lactiplantibacillus and Lentilactobacillus presented as minor taxa in fresh sweet sorghum and dominated the bacterial community of all silages. Inoculating LAB was the main factor affecting the bacterial community of sweet sorghum silage. Moreover, inoculating LAB and increasing silo density can contribute to the decreasing Lactiplantibacillus abundance and increasing Lentilactobacillus abundance.
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of six common commercial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) additives [A1, Lactobacillus plantarum, L. buchneri, and Enterococcus faecalis; A2, L. plantarum and L. casei; A3, L. plantarum and L. buchneri; A4, L. plantarum, L. buchneri, L. casei, and Pediococcus acidilactici; A5, L. plantarum (producing feruloyl esterase); and A6, L. buchneri, P. acidilactici, β-glucanase, and xylanase] on the bacterial community and fermentation quality of alfalfa silage. Alfalfa was harvested at the squaring stage, wilted in the field for 24 h, and ensiled without any additives (Control) or with A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, or A6. Microbial counts, bacterial community, fermentation parameters, and nutritional composition were determined after ensiling for 90 days. The total abundance of LAB genera on alfalfa pre-ensiling was 0.38% in bacterial community. The abundances of Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Pediococcus in the Control silage were 42.18, 40.18, and 8.09% of abundance, respectively. The abundances of Lactobacillus in A1-, A2-, A3-, A4-, and A5-treatments were 89.32, 92.93, 92.87, 81.12, and 80.44%, respectively. The abundances of Pediococcus and Lactobacillus in A6-treatment were 70.14 and 24.86%, respectively. Compared with Control silage, LAB-treated silage had lower pH and less ammonia nitrogen and water-soluble carbohydrates concentrations (p < 0.05). Further, the A5- and A6-treatments contained lower neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and hemicellulose than other treatments (p < 0.05). Overall, LAB genera were presented as minor taxa in alfalfa pre-ensiling and as dominant taxa in alfalfa silage. Adding LAB additives improved the fermentation quality and altered the bacterial community of alfalfa silage. The main bacterial genera in Control silage were Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Pediococcus. Lactobacillus dominated the bacterial communities of A1-, A2-, A3-, A4-, and A5-treatments, while Pediococcus and Lactobacillus were dominant bacterial genera in A6-treatment. Inoculating A5 and A6 degraded the fiber in alfalfa silage. It is necessary to ensile alfalfa with LAB inoculants.
Leymus chinensis is a major forage resource for herbivores on typical steppe and meadow steppes in Northern China. This study aimed to reveal the fermentation quality, bacterial community, and aerobic stability of L. chinensis silage treated with lactic acid bacteria or/and water after long-term storage. Leymus chinensis was harvested at the heading stage and ensiled with lactic acid bacteria [LAB, 2.00 ml/kg fresh weight (FW) of LAB, L], water (100 ml/kg FW of distilled water, W), or a combination of both [2.00 ml/kg fresh weight (FW) of LAB and 100 ml/kg FW of distilled water, LW] in polyethylene laboratory-scale silos (diameter, 20 cm; height, 30 cm) at a density of 650 kg/m3. As a control silage (CK), untreated L. chinensis silage was also assessed. The samples were taken at 0 day of opening after 300 days of ensiling (CK_0d, L_0d, W_0d, and LW_0d) and at 10 days of opening (CK_10d, L_10d, W_10d, and LW_10d). The fermentation quality, microbial counts, bacterial community, and aerobic stability of the silage were assessed. The CK_0d contained higher pH and aerobic bacteria count, and lower LA and BC concentrations than L_0d, W_0d, and LW_0d (p < 0.05), and the LAB and yeasts were only detected in CK at 0 day of opening. Lactobacillus had the most abundance among bacterial genera in all silages at 0 day of opening. Just CK had 2°C above the ambient temperature during aerobic exposure (at 224 h). During aerobic exposure, the pH and microbial counts in CK increased (p < 0.05), and Lactobacillus in L and LW had decreasing abundance (p < 0.05). The CK_10d had higher pH and microbial counts, and lower lactic acid and buffering capacity than L_10d, W_10d, and LW_10d (p < 0.05). At 10 days of opening, the coliforms and yeasts were just detected in CK, and Lactobacillus also had the most abundance among bacterial genera in all silages at 10 days of opening. Overall, inoculating LAB and adding water improved the fermentation quality and the aerobic exposure of L. chinensis silage after long-term storage. The activities of coliforms and yeasts during aerobic exposure contributed to the aerobic deterioration of L. chinensis silage without any treating. Lactobacillus dominated the bacterial communities of all silage at 0 and 10 days of opening. During aerobic exposure, the abundance of Lactobacillus reduced in L. chinensis silage treated with LAB or water.
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