Fermentation Quality of Round-Bale Silage as Affected by Additives and Ensiling Seasons in Dwarf Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach)

Abstract

Fermentation quality of dwarf napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) was estimated for additives lactic acid bacteria and Acremonium cellulase (LAB + AC), fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB), and a no-additive control in 2006 via two ensiling methods-round-bale and vinyl-bag methods in 2006-and via two ensiling seasons-summer and autumn of 2013. Fermentation quality of dwarf napiergrass ensiled in the summer season was improved by the input of additives, with the highest quality in LAB + AC, followed by FJLB; the lactic acid content was higher, and the pH and sum of the butyric, caproic, and valeric acid contents were lower, resulting in an increase in the V-score value by each additive. The ensiling method in autumn without additives affected fermentation quality, mainly due to the airtightness, which was higher for round-bale processing than in vinyl bags, even with the satisfactory V-score of 72. Fermentation in round bales without additives had a higher quality in autumn than in summer, possibly due to the higher concentration of mono-and oligo-saccharides. Thus, it was concluded that dwarf napiergrass can be produced to satisfactory-quality silage by adding LAB + AC or FJLB in summer and even in the absence of additives in autumn.

Round-Bale Silage Harvesting and Processing Effects on Overwintering Ability, Dry Matter Yield, Fermentation Quality, and Palatability of Dwarf Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach)

“…The fermentation quality of round-bale silage in dwarf Napiergrass was evaluated by cutting with a flail-type harvester equipped with a round-baler in our previous studies [2,5,6]. However, this is not the usual machinery for the silage processing of grasses by beef cow producers, who most often use a mower conditioner and round-baler.…”

“…Since the fermentation quality of the round-bale silage of dwarf Napiergrass produced in summer is considered inconsistent [3,5], we have had success in improving the amount of satisfactory quality silage by adding lactic acid bacteria with Acremonium cellulose or fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria [6]. Wilting is an effective method to improve the fermentation quality of tropical grass silage [7], though in the previous study [6], a no-wilting ensilage method was examined, and only for dwarf Napiergrass.…”

“…Wilting is an effective method to improve the fermentation quality of tropical grass silage [7], though in the previous study [6], a no-wilting ensilage method was examined, and only for dwarf Napiergrass. Thus, we also investigated the effect of wilting on the fermentation quality of dwarf Napiergrass silage under processing by a mower conditioner and round-baler.…”

Grassland Establishment of Dwarf Napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) by Planting of Cuttings in the Winter Season

“…Labor was based on all activities from furrowing to placing and covering stem cuttings with soil. The labor for the manual establishment method was measured for transplanting rooted tillers of dwarf Napiergrass at 2 plants/m 2 with 1 m interrow and 0.5 m intrarow spacing into 500 m 2 on 24 May 2013, performed in the manner described in our previous study [9,10].…”

“…According to previous research, dwarf Napiergrass can be utilized not only under a cut-and-carry system [5], but also in silage processing [1,2,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] and under grazing management [5,[15][16][17][18] because of its herbage quality, which is not so low as ordinary tropical grasses such as guineagrass (Panicum maximum) and sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense) [1,2,19]. Moreover, the nutritive value of dwarf Napiergrass was the highest among genotypes of Napiergrass [20][21][22][23][24].…”