Effects of Sodium Benzoate Application, Silage Relocation, and Storage Time on the Preservation Quality of Sugarcane Silage
, Amanda C. M. de Queiroz 1, Thiago F. Bernardes 2, Cristian Faturi 1, Felipe N. Domingues 1, João P. P. Rodrigues 3, Thiago C. da Silva 1 and Aníbal C. do Rêgo 1,4,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Thank you for this valuable research but these comments to improve it:
1- In introduction part more detail knowledge about SB must added
2- In line 147 the mention methods not mentioned in material and method
3- In table 1 SEM at the end of the table is in wrong position
4- In line 177 remove from
5- In lines from 187-190 wrong comment
6-In tables(3,4,5,7,8) the comments underneath do not differ and p less than 0.05 how it come
7- In line 370 mention corroborating although controversy result detected
8- In line 412 increase is wrong
9- In line 499 mention 96 h although not in the study duration
10- Not all tables and figures in the results part discuss in discussion part
11- Control by using diluent of SB must be added to the results
Author Response
The suggestions offered by this reviewer have been immensely helpful, and we also appreciate your comments on revising the content of the paper.
Comment: In introduction part, more detail knowledge about SB must added
Answer: More detail about SB was added.
Comment: In line 147 the mention methods not mentioned in material and method
Answer: The mention methods in line 147 was added to material and method section. Current line 87 to 93.
Comment: In line 370 mention corroborating although controversy result detected
Answer: When cited, "corroborating" refers to the fact that there was no increase of the yeast population until 12h. The increase in yeasts occurred after 48 hours, a result similar to what was found in this study. Current line 398.
Comment: In line 499 mention 96 h although not in the study duration
Answer: I didn't find the mention of 96h in line 499. If you are referring to line 466, 96h is one of the aerobic exposure times of the relocated silages studied in this paper. Current line 488.
Comment: Not all tables and figures in the results part discuss in discussion part
Answer: The discussion section was divided in topics to approach all subjects that are important to understanding the paper. There are similar results in different tables or figures that are summarized in topics. The discussion was written considering the results in an integrated way and to avoid just repeating the results.
Comment: Control by using diluent of SB must be added to the results
Answer: I couldn’t understand the suggestion.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript investigated the of sodium benzoate (SB), relocation, and storage time on the quality of sugarcane silage used a 2 × 4 × 2 factorial arrangement. This manuscript has the potential for further consideration for publication. However, the results of the present study were not well presented, it can be further improved to easy understand.
The manuscript investigated the effects of sodium benzoate (SB), relocation, and storage time on the quality of sugarcane silage. It is a topic of interest for those engaged in relevant professions. The study design and the parameters studied are fine and the conclusions drawn are sound.
But this paper still needs a minor revision before acceptance for publication.
(1) Why the authors selected this level (2 mg/kg on fresh matter basis) of sodium benzoate? And why selected this storage time (10 or 60 days).
(2) This paper used a 2 × 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, it means the experiment had 16 treatment groups, however, the results of the present study were not well presented, it can be further improved to easy understand. I suggest that the author present the experimental results of these 16 treatments.
Author Response
The suggestions offered by this reviewer have been immensely helpful, and we also appreciate your comments on revising the content of the paper.
Comment: Why the authors selected this level (2 mg/kg on fresh matter basis) of sodium benzoate? And why selected this storage time (10 or 60 days).
Answer: Previous studies observed that the use of sodium benzoate at 1g/kg improved dry matter recovery and aerobic stability of silages (Kleinschmit et al., 2005; Pedroso et al., 2008). According to O’Kiely (2009), the effectiveness sodium benzoate depends on the quantity of the applied active ingredients. According to the Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of 2012: Sodium benzoate can be used in concentrations until 2.5 g.kg1 forage to show the potential to increase the aerobic stability of ensiled materials at a wide range of dry matter content. Bernardes et al. (2015) observed that silages treated at 2 g.kg1 had consistent effects on pH values and yeast counts and were more effective in improving aerobic stability. Also, studies of sorghum grain silage using sodium benzoate at concentrations of 2g/kg showed that the use of the chemical additive increases the aerobic stability, and reduces proteolysis (Santos et al., 2019).
Considering that sugarcane silage has a high concentration of water-soluble carbohydrates which leads to high yeast’s growth and high ethanol production with high dry matter losses and low aerobic stability (Pedroso et al., 2005; Rabelo et al., 2019; Siqueira et al., 2010) Based on that and on the literature results, the research group decided to use 2 mg/kg because of the challenging conditions observed in the sugarcane fermentation process. [These references are on the paper references].
Bernardes, T. F., De Oliveira, I. L., Lara, M. A. S., Casagrande, D. R., Ávila, C. L. S., & Pereira, O. G. Effects of potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate at two application rates on fermentation and aerobic stability of maize silage. Grass and Forage Science. 2015, 70(3), 491-498.
Efsa Panel On Additives And Products Or Substances Used In Animal Feed (FEEDAP). Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of sodium benzoate as a silage additive for pigs, poultry, bovines, ovines, goats, rabbits and horses. EFSA Journal. 2012, 10, 7, 2779. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2779.
Kleinschmit, D. H.; Schmidt, R. J.; Kung JR, L. The effects of various antifungal additives on the fermentation and aerobic stability of corn silage. Journal of Dairy Science. 2005, 88, 6, 2130-2139. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(05)72889-7.
Pedroso, A. D. F., Nussio, L. G., Loures, D. R. S., Paziani, S. D. F., Ribeiro, J. L., Mari, L. J., ... & Horii, J. Fermentation, losses, and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages treated with chemical or bacterial additives. Scientia Agricola. 2008, 65, 589-594. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162008000600004
Santos, W. P., Salvati, G. G. S., Arthur, B. A. V., Daniel, J. L. P., & Nussio, L. G. The effect of sodium benzoate on the nutritive value of rehydrated sorghum grain silage for dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology. 2019, 256, 114267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2019.114267.
The storage time was defined as 10 or 60d as a strategy to observe the difference of the fermentation of re-ensiling in short (10d) and long (60d) periods. Farmers that buy the relocated silages may want to use them in a shorter period of storage (10d). After that according to Dos Anjos et al. (2018) most farmers use the re-ensiled material within approximately 60d or less. Besides that, there aren’t silage relocation studies with 10 or 60d days treatments of storage time. The studies investigated shorter storage times of 45 days (Chen and Weinberg., 2014) and 56 days (Coelho et al., 2018); or longer periods of 150 d (Limas et al., 2016) 240d (Dos anjos et al., 2018; Michel et al., 2017); [These references are on the paper references].
Comment: This paper used a 2 × 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, it means the experiment had 16 treatment groups, however, the results of the present study were not well presented, it can be further improved to easy understand. I suggest that the author present the experimental results of these 16 treatments.
Answer: The presentation of the results was carried out in a way that gives the reader a better understanding of the isolated effects and interactions. We have three factors; all the results are described in tables. The interactions between two factors were showed in tables, and the triple interactions showed in a graph, with all 16 treatments, aiming at the best visualization for the reader. This form of presentation was motivated by articles with triple interaction (Saylor et al., 2020). Also, the interactions in aerobic exposure were showed in graphs aiming the best approach to understand the treatments as motivated in study of Roth et al. (2018).
Saylor, B. A., Casale, F., Sultana, H., & Ferraretto, L. F. Effect of microbial inoculation and particle size on fermentation profile, aerobic stability, and ruminal in situ starch degradation of high-moisture corn ensiled for a short period. Journal of dairy science 2020, 103(1), 379-395. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16831.
Roth, A. P. T., Siqueira, G. R., Rabelo, C. H., Moretti, M. H., Härter, C. J., Resende, F. D., & Reis, R. A. Effect of days postburning and calcium oxide on the fermentation, aerobic stability and nutritional characteristics of sugarcane silage for finishing Nellore steers. Grass and Forage Science. 2018, 73(3), 671-684. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12377
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
This study deals with ensiling, relocation and storage time of sugar cane silage treated with or without SB, a commercial chemical product. This research showed that the aerobic stability of sugarcane silage can be improved with this additive. The design of this experiment adds value to the scientific community as it addresses practical ways of moving silage from one area to another with losing its nutritive value.
Author Response
The authors are grateful for the review.
