Context. Due to the prolonged dry periods during the transition from winter to spring, there is a seasonal imbalance in forage supply, making silage one of the key substitutes for fresh grass during arid seasons. However, the high fiber content remains a major constraint on nutrient utilization and digestibility. The use of microbial additives offers a safe approach to alleviate this issue, with the combination of cellulose-decomposing bacteria (CDB) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) representing an emerging strategy. Aims. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of co-inoculating with a selected efficient CDB strain and LAB on the fermentation quality and fiber degradation of whole-plant corn silage. Methods. A candidate strain of CDB was selected based on its enzyme production and tolerance, and was subsequently mixed with LAB at varying ratios (2:1, 1:1, 1:2). Cellulase, CDB, LAB and different proportions of CDB-LAB were added to whole-plant corn silage and their effects were observed on days 3, 7, 60. Key results. A cellulolytic bacterium, Bacillus paralicheniformis NS25, with high enzyme production was screened. LS-21 showed the best overall performance after days 60 by reducing dry matter loss, decreasing fiber content, and increasing the concentrations of organic acids, crude protein (CP), and water soluble carbohydrates (WSC). Co-inoculation reduced the content of structural carbohydrates and increased the content of non-structural carbohydrates, and improved the aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage. Conclusions. The co-inoculation of LAB and CDB in a 2:1 ratio exhibited superior performance throughout the fermentation process. Implications. The different effects of compound microbial additives provide theoretical basis for improving the quality of whole-plant corn silage and rational development and utilization, so as to be better applied to practical production.
Zhang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.