Evaluation of chitosan and microbial inoculants as additives on silages of sugarcane, Mombaça grass, high moisture corn and whole soybean plant

• Grant number: 17/15457-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2018
• End date: September 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal Investigator: Mariana Campana
• Grantee: Mariana Campana
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Mariana Campana ; Tiago Antonio Del Valle

Abstract

The microbial inoculants usage in silages has been a common practice to reduce fermentation losses, increase aerobic stability and improve silage quality. Conventional inoculants basically use homofermentative lactic acid bacteria, while second generation inoculants are composed of heterofermentative lactic bacteria, which are more efficient in silages with high soluble carbohydrate contents. More recently, it was proposed the use of chitosan on the fermentation of sugarcane silage, with promising results on fermentative losses, chemical composition and aerobic stability. However, in silages produced from materials with lower non-fibrous carbohydrate contents, we do not know of any studies that have evaluated the use of chitosan as an additive in comparison to homofermentative and heterofermentative inoculants. Among these silages, due to the relevance and the growing interest in the national productive environment, we highlight the silages of high moisture corn, grass and whole soybean plant. Thus, the present project aims to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of chitosan and homo and heterofermentative inoculants on fermentative parameters, losses, bromatological composition, protein and carbohydrate fractions, microbiology and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages , high moisture corn, Mombasa grass and whole soybean plant. 160 experimental silos (20 L) will be made, in which the inclusion of additives [control (CONT): without the addition of additives; Chitosan (CHI): with the addition of 6.0 g chitosan / kg DM; Homofermentative inoculants (HOI): with the addition of 2 mg / kg MN of homofermentative inoculant containing Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus; and heterofermentative inoculant (HEI): with the addition of 2 mg / kg MN of heterofermentative inoculant containing Lactobacillus buchneri] the type of silage [sugarcane (SC), high moisture corn (HMC), Mombasa grass (MG) and whole soybean plant (WSP)]. The silos will be opened after 60 days. The losses by liquids and solids, as well as the recovery of the dry matter will be quantified. An aliquot of the material (1 kg) will be subjected to pressing to obtain the liquid and analyzes of pH, NH3-N, ethanol and organic acids. The silage will be evaluated for its bromatological composition and fractions of protein and carbohydrates. Also, microorganism counts and aerobic stability of the silage will be evaluated. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE MORAIS, J. P. G.; CANTOIA JUNIOR, R.; GARCIA, T. M.; CAPUCHO, E.; CAMPANA, M.; GANDRA, J. R.; GHIZZI, LUCAS G.; DEL VALLE, T. A.. Chitosan and microbial inoculants in whole-plant soybean silage. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE, v. 159, n. 3-4, p. 227-235, APR 2021. (17/15457-7)

DEL VALLE, T. A.; CAMPANA, M.; PEREIRA, N. R.; OSORIO, J. A. C.; GARCIA, T. M.; CAPUCHO, E.; DE MORAIS, J. P. G.. Lactobacillus buchneri inoculation compared to chitosan and facultative heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria improves sugarcane silage conservation. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE, v. 160, n. 5, p. 8-pg., 2022-08-01. (17/15457-7)