Effects of propionic acid and Lactobacillus buchneri (UFLA SIL 72) addition on fermentative and microbiological characteristics of sugar cane silage treated with and without calcium oxide

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of a new strain of Lactobacillus buchneri (UFLA SIL 72) isolated from sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) silage and the addition of propionic acid [1% based on fresh matter (FM)] to silages treated with and without calcium oxide (1% of FM) at 60 and 170 d of ensiling. A randomized block design with a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to analyse the results. The use of calcium oxide reduced the ethanol content and neutral detergent fibre in all silages, increased pH values and favoured the growth of clostridia and yeasts. The addition of propionic acid reduced the yeast population, but it was not able to reduce ethanol content of silage. The addition of L. buchneri resulted in silages with higher concentration of propionate, reduced the levels of ethanol and reduced the population of clostridia in all silages. The use of calcium oxide is not recommended for silage of sugar cane.     

Fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of grass silage inoculated with Lactobacillus buchneri, with or without homofermentative lactic acid bacteria

Aerobic spoilage by yeasts and moulds is a major cause of reduced nutritional value of silage and increases the risk of potential pathogenic microorganisms. Recent studies have shown that inoculation with Lactobacillus buchneri inhibits yeast growth and reduces the susceptibility to aerobic spoilage of various ensiled forages. The aim of this study was to determine whether these effects are retained when L. buchneri is added in combination with homofermentative lactic acid bacteria. In three experiments, silages were produced from perennial ryegrass [240–421 g kg⁻¹ dry matter (DM)] inoculated with L. buchneri or L. buchneri plus a mixture of Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus plantarum (inoculant PL). Uninoculated silage and silage inoculated with PL alone served as controls. Silages were examined for pH and DM loss in the course of ensilage and chemical and microbiological composition and aerobic stability after 3–4 months. L. buchneri plus PL and PL alone increased the initial rate of pH decline. L. buchneri alone and L. buchneri plus PL enhanced aerobic stability and, in general, reduced yeast and mould counts. In addition, these inoculants increased the final pH and DM loss and the concentrations of acetic acid and 1,2-propanediol (or propionic acid and 1-propanol instead of 1,2-propanediol), and decreased the concentration of lactic acid. The effects of L. buchneri on fermentation products increased with decreasing DM content. In silages of less than 270 g kg⁻¹ DM, L. buchneri increased the ammonia-N concentration. It is suggested that this was associated with the relatively high final pH resulting from the high metabolic activity of L. buchneri in these silages.     

国家甘蔗品种区试漳州蔗区试验简报

经过1999～2001年3年二新一宿区域化试验,参试的14个国家甘蔗品种出苗较好,分蘖力较强,个别品种宿根性较差,综合3年蔗茎产量和蔗糖分的表现,闽糖90-55、新台糖20号、闽糖92-649表现最好,各项指标优于或与两个对照种相当,可以在漳州蔗区进一步示范推广;福农91-21、桂糖91-116、云蔗89-7、粤糖89-240各种性状与两个对照种比互有优劣,需继续进行区域试验,最终确定是否可在漳州蔗区进一步示范推广;其余品种综合性状表现较差,不适宜在漳州蔗区进一步示范推广。     

Silage quality when Moringa oleifera is ensiled in mixtures with Elephant grass,sugar cane and molasses

Fourteen different silages were prepared using mixtures of Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv Taiwan) or sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum). Molasses from sugar cane was used in the amounts of either 10 or 50 g kg^?1 fresh matter (FM) in treatments without sugar cane. A completely randomized design with three replicates of each treatment was used. The silages were prepared in 1800 mL micro silos and opened after 120 d. The presence of Moringa and Elephant grass in the silage changed the pH by ?0·8 and +0·7, respectively (P < 0·001), indicating a favourable effect of Moringa on silage pH. Overall differences were found among treatments for dry matter content, crude protein and acetic acid concentrations, weight loss, CO₂ production and silage pH after spoilage (P < 0·001). Weight loss was proportionately 0·034 and 0·014 in silages with and without sugar cane respectively (P < 0·001). Overall, differences (P < 0·05) were also found for neutral‐detergent fibre and lactic acid concentrations, lactic acid bacteria counts, clostridial counts and time to spoilage of the silages. Treatments containing Moringa had higher lactic acid concentrations (+16 g kg^?1 DM; P < 0·01) compared to treatments without but the presence of Moringa decreased time to spoilage by 67 h (P < 0·05). No differences were found in propionic acid concentration or fungal growth of the silages. It is concluded that Moringa can be used as a component of high quality silages which also contain high concentrations of crude protein.     

The effect of different additives on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability and in vitro digestibility of pea/wheat bi-crop silages containing contrasting pea to wheat ratios

Studies were conducted to compare the effects of using two microbial inoculants, a sulphite salt‐based additive, formic acid and quebracho tannins, on the fermentation quality, nutritive value and aerobic stability of pea/wheat bi‐crop silages. Spring peas (Pisum sativum var. Magnus) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Axona) were drilled together at rates that gave high (HP/W; 3:1) or low (LP/W; 1:3) pea to wheat ratios. The peas and wheat were harvested at the yellow wrinkled pods and late milk/early dough maturity stage, respectively, and conserved in 1·5‐kg polyethylene bag, laboratory silos. The bi‐crops were conserved without treatment (control) or treated with either of two lactic acid bacteria‐based inoculants [Lactobacillus buchneri; applied at 10⁵ colony‐forming units (CFU) g^–1 fresh weight (FW) or Lactobacillus plantarum (applied at 10⁶ CFU g^–1 FW)], sulphite salts (applied at the rate of 1 ml sulphite solution kg^–1 FW), quebracho tannins (applied at 16 g kg^–1 FW) and formic acid (applied at 2·5 g kg^–1 FW). Six replicates were made for each treatment, and the silos were opened after 112 days of ensilage. The level of peas in the bi‐crop influenced the effectiveness of the additives. With the exception of sulphite salts, all the additives significantly reduced the soluble nitrogen (N) and ammonia‐N concentrations of all the silages. The ratio of lactic acid to acetic acid was generally lower in the LP/W silages than in the HP/W silages, and the additive treatments only increased the in vitro digestible organic matter in dry matter of the LP/W silages. Of all the additives evaluated, formic acid resulted in the least aerobic spoilage in HP/W bi‐crop silages. However, in the LP/W bi‐crops, additive treatment was not necessary for ensuring aerobic stability.     

The effects of lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation,aerobic stability and nutritive value of maize silage

Maize was harvested at one‐third milk line (297 g kg^?1 DM) stage. All inoculants were applied at 1 × 10⁶ cfu g^?1 of fresh forage. After treatment, the chopped forages were ensiled in 1·5‐L anaerobic jars. Three jars per treatment were sampled on days 2, 4, 7, 12 and 90 after ensiling, for chemical and microbiological analysis. Homofermentative LAB‐inoculated silages had lower pH and higher lactate:acetate ratio (except for Lactobacillus plantarum/Pediococcus cerevisiae and L. plantarum/Propionibacterium acidipropionici) than the control and both heterofermentative LAB‐inoculated silages. Both L. buchneri inhibited yeast growth and CO₂ production during exposure of silage to air. The L. plantarum/P. cerevisiae, L. plantarum (Ecosyl) and L. plantarum/Enterococcus faecium‐inoculated silages had higher dry‐matter digestibility than the control and L. buchneri‐inoculated silages. Inoculants did not affect digestibility of neutral detergent fibre, except for L. buchneri (Biotal), organic matter nor ME content of silages. The LAB silage inoculants generally had a positive effect on maize silage characteristics in terms of lower pH and shifting fermentation toward lactate with homofermentative LAB or toward acetate with L. buchneri. The use of L. buchneri can improve the aerobic stability of maize silages by the inhibition of yeast activity.     

Possibilities of increasing the residual water‐soluble carbohydrate concentration and aerobic stability of low dry‐matter perennial ryegrass silage through additive and cultivar use

Increasing the residual water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentration in silage may improve the nutritional value but impair aerobic stability. Our aim was to determine whether the residual WSC concentration and aerobic stability of low dry‐matter (<135 g kg^?1) perennial ryegrass silage could be manipulated through the judicious use of additive and cultivar. Seven additive treatments, including three innovative treatments, were compared across four consecutive harvests of the cultivars AberDart (bred to accumulate high concentrations of herbage WSC) and Fennema (control). The standard of fermentation of silage ensiled without additive (untreated) ranged from very bad to excellent. Application of ammonium tetraformate, at 3 and 6 L t^?1, or homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) alone had an inconsistent effect on the fermentation and aerobic stability, and negligible effect on residual WSC concentration. A mixture of Lactobacillus buchneri and homofermentative LAB was not an effective silage additive, producing generally poorly fermented silage. An antimicrobial mixture of sodium benzoate, sodium propionate, sodium nitrite and hexamethylenetetramine, applied at 2·5 and 5 L t^?1, frequently improved the standard of fermentation, but the effects were subject to the application rate. The high application rate was the most effective additive evaluated at improving the fermentation and increasing residual WSC concentration and consistently produced silage of excellent standard of fermentation. However, the antimicrobial mixture was not effective at protecting against aerobic instability. The effects of additive treatment were largely inconsistent across cultivars. Overall, AberDart had a negligible effect on the silage fermentation, residual WSC concentration and aerobic stability compared with Fennema.     

"天达2116"对采种甜菜生理指标及产质量的影响

试验结果表明:在母根栽植发叶后,种株抽薹初期,叶面喷施植物细胞膜稳态剂“天达2116”,对种株根系的伸长、植株增高及叶片增厚、增绿,叶绿素含量增加,以及提高光合速率,增强植株抗逆性,对茎枝增粗、分枝增多,提高结实率和种球饱满度,降低种位密度,促进早熟,优化品质,提高种子成熟度和发芽率等影响较大,可增加种子产量12.5%～14.4%。     

The effect of stage of perennial ryegrass maturity at harvesting, fermentation characteristics and concentrate supplementation, on the quality and intake of grass silage by beef cattle

Abstract Two experiments were carried out in consecutive years to examine the influence of cutting date and restricting fermentation by carboxylic acid treatment on the nutrient intake from grass silage by beef cattle. In year 1, four cutting dates during July and August after a primary growth harvest and, in year 2, five cutting dates of primary growth between mid‐May and early July were examined. Herbage was ensiled either untreated or treated with high levels of acid additive (‘Maxgrass’, mean 8·6 l t^?1). Ninety‐six (year 1) or forty‐eight (year 2) continental cross steers were used in partially balanced changeover design experiments with each silage type either unsupplemented or supplemented with 4·5 (year 1) or 5·5 (year 2) kg concentrates head^?1 d^?1. Silage digestibility declined significantly between initial and final harvest dates (P < 0·001), whereas silage dry‐matter (DM) and digestible energy (DE) intakes were significantly higher in the initial compared with final harvest dates in both years of the study (P < 0·01). Similarly, silage DM and DE intakes, and total DM intakes, of acid‐treated and unsupplemented silages were greater than those of untreated and concentrate supplemented silages, respectively (P < 0·001). The results indicate that earlier cutting dates, and addition of acid to herbage before ensiling, can increase silage DM intake by beef cattle.     

Effects of the colour and thickness of polyethylene film on ensiling conditions and silage quality of chopped maize, as investigated under ambient conditions and in mini-silos

Abstract The influences of variations in thickness and colour of agricultural plastic film on silage preservation conditions and silage quality were investigated. Thirty cylindrical plastic containers (mini‐silos; 0·3 m³) were filled with chopped maize and covered with five different types of film (90 µm white, 150 µm transparent, 150 µm white, 150 µm black, 200 µm white). Four mini‐silos of each variant were placed in the open air, and two were housed and subjected to a test procedure. The maximum storage period of silages was 104 d. The surface temperature of the films was found to be strongly dependent on the type of sheet. The temperatures inside the mini‐silos directly under the film differed significantly, whereas this effect was not recorded in the centre of the mini‐silos. In all, the differences were quantitatively small. Results of the chemical analysis of silages did not reveal any significant influence of film type. This was also the case when restricting the analysis to the uppermost silage layer. These findings are discussed against the background of the relatively small temperature differences and likely effects on gas permeability. On the basis of the results presented, it is concluded that, under the conditions of the experiment, well‐preserved forage of high nutritive value can be produced with silo sheets of differing colour, as well as with those of reduced thickness. Adequate mechanical robustness has to be ensured, if there is a reduction in film thickness.     

Influence of harvest date of primary growth on microbial flora of grass herbages and haylage, and on fermentation and aerobic stability of haylage conserved in laboratory silos

The influence of harvest date of the primary growth of grass herbages on the microbial flora of herbage pre-conservation and haylage post-conservation was studied along with fermentation variables and aerobic stability of haylage. The primary growths of two grass swards, one intensely (Int) and one extensively (Ext) managed, were cut at three different harvest dates (May, June, August) and ensiled in laboratory silos for 120 d. Later harvest dates resulted in increased counts of yeast, mould and enterobacteria in the pre-conserved herbage ( P  <   0·001). Counts of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) ( P  <   0·001) and number of mould species ( P  <   0·001) were highest in the pre-conserved herbage harvested in August. Later harvest dates resulted in higher yeast ( P  <   0·001) and LAB ( P  <   0·001) counts in the haylage while counts of enterobacteria decreased ( P  <   0·001). Clostridial spore counts were unaffected by harvest date both in herbage and haylage. The haylage harvested in August had the lowest pH and the lowest concentration of ethanol but the concentration of lactic acid was in general low. Aerobic stability was longer ( P  <   0·01) for haylage from herbage harvested in August compared with haylage from herbage harvested in May and June. Sward type had less influence than harvest date on microbial variables in herbage and haylage and on fermentation variables of haylage, and did not influence the aerobic stability of haylage.     

Effects of two mixtures of perennial ryegrass cultivars with contrasting heading dates, and differing in spring-grazing frequency and silage harvest date, on characteristics of silage from first-cut swards

This experiment quantified the effects of: (i) heading date of perennial ryegrass, (ii) grazing frequency in spring and (iii) date of silage harvest, on the ensilability of herbages harvested for silage, and on the conservation and estimated nutritive value of the resultant silages. Replicated field plots with two perennial ryegrass mixtures (intermediate‐ and late‐heading cultivars) were subjected to three spring‐grazing regimes (no grazing, grazing in late March and grazing in both late March and late April) and were harvested on four first‐cut harvest dates between 20 May and 21 June. Herbage from each of the four replicates of these 24 treatments was precision‐chopped and ensiled unwilted and with no additive in laboratory silos. Herbage from the sward with the intermediate‐heading cultivar had a higher (P < 0·001) dry‐matter (DM) content and buffering capacity than that from the late‐heading cultivar, whereas water‐soluble carbohydrate concentrations increased (P < 0·001) with more frequent grazing in spring. Later harvesting enhanced herbage ensilability through an increased (P < 0·001) DM content and reduced (P < 0·001) buffering capacity and pH. Fermentation profiles of the silage were not markedly influenced by the cultivar mixture used but grazing in both late March and late April resulted in a more extensive fermentation with the acids produced increasingly dominated by lactic acid. The concentrations of acetic acid, and to a lesser extent, ethanol declined as silage harvest date was delayed. Overall, the relative effects of grass cultivar mixture were smaller than those of spring‐grazing treatment or silage‐harvesting date although on any given harvest date the herbage from the intermediate‐heading cultivar mixture was easier to preserve as silage than herbage from the late‐heading cultivar mixture. Delaying the harvesting of the late‐heading swards by 8 d removed the differences related to growth stage in buffering capacity, pH and DM content.     

不同土壤环境对甜菜产质量的影响

试验结果表明,非病地比病地平均提高根产量、含糖率、产糖量分别为12230.6kg/hm、4.46度、3122.4kg/hm2;t测验分析表明,不同土壤环境对甜菜产质量具有不同程度的影响,其大小顺序是含糖率>产糖量>根产量,分别有94.1%、84.7%和50.7%的材料因不同土壤环境而达到显著或极显著差异。方差分析结果显示,在病地参试材料的根产量、产糖量的差异显著性与非病地的基本同步,而含糖率差异显著性却不完全同步,病地更能造成材料间含糖率的显著或极显著差异。两种地块导致单胚材料、饲料甜菜的根产量和产糖量差异悬殊。     

氮磷钾不同配比对甜菜产质量的影响

通过内蒙古西部地区华资实业股份有限公司原料区3个不同试验点进行的甜菜氮、磷、钾不同配比试验,明确了氮素为甜菜产量和产糖量的主效因子,磷为含糖率的主效因子(达拉特旗点除外),提出了不同地区氮、磷、钾3要素的施用量及其比例。为甜菜专用肥的配方调整提供了科学依据。     

Effects on milk production of feeding silage and three levels of sugar-beet pulp either as a mixed ration or as an ensiled blend

Twenty-one British Friesian dairy cows, in mid-lactation, were used in a seven-treatment, partially balanced change-over design experiment consisting of three periods each of 4 weeks' duration. Treatments involved offering grass silage either without a sugar-beet pulp (beet pulp) supplement (US) or supplemented with beet pulp at silage/beet pulp dry matter ratios of 80:20 (C40), 65:35 (C80) and 55:45 (C120), and offered in the form of a mixed ration. A further three treatments consisted of offering ensiled blends of silage and beet pulp, produced by mixing 40 (E40), 80 (E80) and 120 (E120)kg beet pulp t^?1 of grass at ensiling. Silage was offered ad libitum on all treatments, with cows receiving 1kg d^?1 of a concentrate supplement containing 470 g crude protein kg^?1 fresh weight. Dry matter intakes increased with increasing level of beet pulp inclusion in the diet, irrespective of method of beet pulp inclusion in the diet. Similarly, milk fat + protein yields increased with increasing level of beet pulp offered. However, when comparisons were made between the two methods of beet pulp inclusion in the diet with beet pulp requirements equivalent to those obtained in treatments C40, C80 and C120, namely 2·28, 4·53 and 6·21 kg d^?1, offering beet pulp as a supplement to an untreated silage resulted in fat + protein yields of 32 (s.e.d. 9·8), 53 (s.e.d. 19·5) and 81 (s.e.d. 21·3)gd^?1 greater than would have been achieved had equivalent quantities of beet pulp been included at ensiling as part of an ensiled blend. This effect can be attributed to the higher metabolizable energy intakes with the control silage supplemented with beet pulp at feeding, a consequence of the loss of nutrients from the beet pulp fraction during ensiling, in the case of treatments E40, E80 and E120. However, when account is taken of differences in the efficiency of recovery of edible silage dry matter between ensilage systems and differences in forage dry-matter intake between treatments, overall efficiency of feed use was not significantly different between the two systems of beet pulp inclusion in the diet.     

Effects on milk production of feeding silage and sugar-beet pulp as separate components, in a mixed ration or as an ensiled blend

Twenty early-lactation British Friesian dairy cows were used in a five-treatment, partially balanced change-over design experiment, consisting of four periods each of 4 weeks' duration. Three treatments consisted of offering ensiled blends of silage and sugar-beet pulp produced by mixing 40 (S40), 80 (S80) and 120 (S120)kg beet pulp t^?1 herbage at ensiling. In two further treatments, an untreated silage was supplemented with 5 kg of beet pulp daily, either mixed with the silage prior to feeding (SM) or offered in two equal feeds each day (ST). Silage was offered ad libitum in all treatments, while in addition all cows received 1 kg d^?1 of a concentrate supplement containing 470 g crude protein kg^?1 fresh weight. Dry-matter intakes and milk fat + protein yields increased with increasing level of beet pulp inclusion in the diet, irrespective of whether it was offered in the form of an ensiled blend or as a supplement to an untreated silage. With the exception of D-value (digestible organic matter in the dry matter), which was significantly higher with treatments SM and ST than with the ensiled blend treatment (S80), no significant differences were identified in total ration digestibility or in the efficiency of nitrogen or energy utilization between methods of beet pulp inclusion in the diet. However, offering beet pulp in the form of an ensiled blend reduced the acetate/propionate ratio in rumen fluid compared with offering best pulp as a supplement to an untreated silage. When account is taken of differences in the efficiency of recovery of edible silage dry matter between ensilage systems and of differences in dry-matter intakes between treatments, total milk fat + protein outputs per 10000 kg herbage dry matter ensiled were 55 (s.e. 50·9) and 78 (s.e. 47·5) kg lower when equal quantities of beet pulp were offered as part of an ensiled blend rather than as a supplement to an untreated silage, as in treatments SM and ST respectively. However, these differences were non-significant. Alternatively, in order to produce an equal milk output from ensiling a given quantity of herbage, 12·5 and 16·2% more beet pulp would have been required if the beet pulp had been mixed with the herbage at ensiling, rather than offered as a supplement, as in treatments SM and ST respectively.     

Effects of Organic Fertilizers and a Microbial Inoculant on Leaf Photosynthesis and Fruit Yield and Quality of Tomato Plants

Summary

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of applications of an organic fertilizer (bokashi), and chicken manure as well as inoculation of a microbial inoculant (commercial name, EM) to bokashi and chicken manure on photosynthesis and fruit yield and quality of tomato plants. EM inoculation to both bokashi and chicken manure increased photosynthesis, fruit yield of tomato plants. Concentrations of sugars and organic acids were higher in fruit of plants fertilized with bokashi than in fruit of other treatments. Vitamin C concentration was higher in fruit from chicken manure and bokashi plots than in those from chemical fertilizer plots. EM inoculation increased vitamin C concentration in fruit from all fertilization treatments. It is concluded that both fruit quality and yield could be significantly increased by EM inoculation to the organic fertilizers and application directly to the soil.     

Effects of different rates and timing of application of nitrogen as slurry and mineral fertilizer on yield of herbage and nitrate-leaching potential of a maize/Italian ryegrass cropping system in north-west Portugal

Efficient use of cattle-slurry to avoid nitrogen (N) leaching and other losses is important in designing intensive dairy systems to minimize pollution of air and water. The response in dry-matter (DM) yield of herbage and nitrate-leaching potential to different rates and timing of application of N as cattle slurry and/or mineral fertilizer in a double-cropping system producing maize ( Zea mays L.) silage and Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was investigated in north-west Portugal. Nine treatments with different rates and combinations of cattle slurry, and with or without mineral-N fertilizer, applied at sowing and as a top-dressing to both crops, were tested and measurements were made of DM yield of herbage, N concentration of herbage, uptake of N by herbage and amounts of residual soil nitrate-N to a depth of 1 m, in a 3-year experiment. Regression analysis showed that the application of 150 and 100 kg of available N ha⁻¹ to maize and Italian ryegrass, respectively, resulted in 0·95 of maximum DM yields of herbage and 0·90 of maximum N uptake by herbage. Residual amounts of nitrate-N in soil after maize ranged from 48 to 278 kg N ha⁻¹ with an exponential increase in response to the amount of N applied; there were higher values of nitrate-leaching potential when mineral-N fertilizer was applied. The results suggest that it is possible in highly productive maize/Italian ryegrass systems to obtain high DM yields of herbage for maize silage and Italian ryegrass herbage with minimal leaching losses by using slurry exclusively at annual rates of up to 250 kg available N ha⁻¹ (equivalent to 480 kg total N ha⁻¹) in three applications.     

Effects of homogenization pressure and stabilizers on some physical characteristics of a beverage prepared from partially defatted, roasted peanuts

A low-fat beverage with roasted peanut flavor was developed from peanuts. The potential milk substitute contained 11.8% total solids, 2.0% fat and 3.7% protein, and was whitish orange-yellow in color. The effects of stabilizing additives and homogenization pressure (13.8×10⁶ Pa or 41.4×10⁶ Pa) on selected physical characteristics were determined. Suspension stability was improved by addition of carrageenan [Benlacta CM61-B (CM), 0.02–0.04%] or a hydrogenated mono- and diglyceride [Emuldan HV52K (HV, 0.2–0.4%)]. Homogenizing at 41.4×10⁶ Pa increased viscosity of all samples except that of the controls but did not improve the suspension stability (top:bottom solids) of the beverage. The most viscous formulations (17.5±0.95 cps) were those containing 0.04% CM. Treatments yielding the best combination, compared to cow's milk values, of high suspension stability (0.5±0.03, where 1.0=maximum stability) and low viscosity (3.7±0.89 cps) were those containing 0.2% HV which were homogenized at 13.8×10⁶ Pa.