Enhancing ensilability of Krascheninnikovia arborescens by cellulase: linkages of cell-wall degradation to fermentation characteristics and bacterial community succession

High-fiber shrubs could broaden forage supplies in water-limited regions, but it is difficult to preserve them through ensiling. This experiment examined whether cellulase improved the fermentation, bacterial ecology, and inferred functional profile of Krascheninnikovia arborescens silage. Fresh forage was assigned to either a cellulase treatment (0.5 g/100 g fresh material; cellulase activity, 50,000 U/g) or a sterile-water control. Each treatment comprised four 200-g replicates packed in 40 × 28 cm vacuum bags and stored for 60 d. Cellulase lowered neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from 482 to 468 g/kg dry matter (DM), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) from 48.8 to 41.7 g/kg DM, pH from 4.93 to 4.60, and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) from 28.2 to 22.4 g/kg total nitrogen (TN) ( P < 0.05). In contrast, lactic acid increased from 35.0 to 43.4 g/kg DM and acetic acid from 22.0 to 35.6 g/kg DM, whereas DM and crude protein (CP) remained unchanged. Enzyme addition reduced bacterial richness and diversity and favored a community characterized by Bacillota and Lactiplantibacillus . Electron microscopy revealed looser tissue organization, surface fissures, peeling, and fragmentation in the treated material. Inferences from 16 S rRNA gene data suggested greater representation of functions associated with sugar transport, glycolysis, pyruvate conversion, and organic acid formation. Overall, cellulase facilitated cell-wall disruption and selected a bacterial assemblage associated with stronger acidification, thereby improving fermentation characteristics and reducing NDF concentration in K. arborescens silage. The graphical abstract has been provided as requested.