Effluent and aerobic stability of cellulase and LAB-treated silage of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum schum)

The effects of acremonium cellulase (AC) additive and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculant on effluent production and aerobic stability of silage were investigated. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) was treated with AC at the rates of 0.05 (AC(1)) and 0.1 g/kg (AC(2)) and/or with LAB at the rate of 1.0 x 10(8) cfu/kg fresh grass at ensiling. The treatments of LAB, AC(1), AC(2), LAB+AC(1) and LAB+AC(2) significantly (p<0.01) decreased pH and contents of volatile basic nitrogen and butyric acid, and significantly (p<0.01) increased lactic acid content compared with the control. All treated silages were well presented with pH of lower than 4.2. There were no significant differences in fermentation quality between the application rates of AC (AC(1) and AC(2)) and between the mixtures (AC(1)+LAB and AC(2)+LAB). AC (AC(1) and AC(2)) and AC plus LAB (AC(1)+LAB and AC(2)+LAB) resulted in more silage effluent than the control and LAB inoculant alone. When the experimental silos were opened, the silages treated with AC and/or LAB were not as stable as the control silage, as shown by pH increase and lactic acid decomposition.