The effects of agricultural byproducts on the fermentation quality of stylo silages

Abstract

To investigate the roles of agricultural byproducts (pineapple peels, PP; sweet corn husks and cobs, SHC; banana stalks and leaves, BSL) as silage additives, their effects on the silage fermentation quality of primary (PG) and regrowth (RG) stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis Sw.) were studied. The research results showed that RG stylo had worse ensiling characteristics than PG, indicated by higher buffer capacity, lower water-soluble carbohydrates and more aerobic microbes. Both PG and RG silages had poor fermentation quality without additives, while PP or SHC addition even at 15% significantly improved their fermentation quality, lowering the pH values and increasing lactic acid content compared with the corresponding controls (P < 0.05). The fermentation quality of silage for PG added with PP at 30% was the best. The addition effectiveness of banana stalks and leaves was not so good as pineapple peels and sweet corn byproducts.