Effect of microbial inoculants on chemical and fermentation characteristics of fodder maize silage

This study examined the effect of microbial inoculants on chemical and fermentation characteristics of fodder maize silage. The evaluated treatments were: T1 (fodder maize-control), T2 (fodder maize plus Sill All®) and T3 (fodder maize plus Lactosilo®), all of them under fermentation into mini silos (3Kg capacity) for 30 days. The variables under study were: dry matter, organic matter, ash, crude fiber and crude protein. After 30 days of fermentation pH and temperature were analyzed every 24 hours, during seven consecutive days of aerobic exposition after fermentation. Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design with six replications. Differences in mean values were performed by Tukey 5%. These results indicated that the application of microbial inoculant had a significant influence on the nutritional characteristics of fodder maize silage. The treatment T3 showed the best results (dry matter, 31.14%; organic matter, 93.60% and crude fiber, 24.23%), although protein content was higher in T2 (12.29%). Ash content was statistically similar between treatments T1 (7.45%) and T2 (7.43%). The values of fermentation indicators (pH and temperature) were within the optimal range, regardless of the use of microbial inoculants. We concluded that in order to preserve the nutritional characteristics of silage of fodder maize, microbial inoculation is important in the fermentative process.

• Main Author: Espinoza Guerra, Italo Fernando (author)
• Other Authors: Montenegro, León Bolívar (author), Vallejo Torres, Cristhian Amable (author), López Vera, Mario René (author), García Montes, Yessenia Maribel (author)
• Format: article
• Language: spa
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: https://revistasespam.espam.edu.ec/index.php/Revista_ESPAMCIENCIA/article/view/92