Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Cellulase Inoculation on Silage Quality of Grape Branches and Leaves

To tackle grape branch and leaf waste and alleviate global feed shortages, this study tested silage made from Xinjiang ‘Seedless White’ grape foliage. Three treatments were established: CK (control, only grape branches and leaves), PL (inoculated with 5 × 10⁶ CFU·g⁻¹ fresh weight Lactiplantibacillus plantarum), and PLC (inoculated with 5 × 10⁶ CFU·g⁻¹ L. plantarum and 0.3% cellulase). Silages were fermented at 18–23 °C and analyzed on days 7, 15, 30, and 60. PLC reduced dry matter loss in the late fermentation stage, while lowering Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and Acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents to solve the high-fiber issue of grape foliage silage. It also maintained a lower pH in the mid-to-late stage and higher Lactic acid (LA) content to ensure anti-spoilage. Microbiologically, PLC had the highest Lactiplantibacillus abundance on day 7; on day 60, its Simpson index was higher, meaning stronger microbial community stability. Firmicutes replaced Cyanobacteria as the new dominant phylum, with Lactiplantibacillus remaining the absolute dominant genus, and the growth of molds and yeasts was effectively inhibited. In conclusion, the combined application of L. plantarum and cellulase enhances the quality of grape branch and leaf silage. This study turns low-value grape branches and leaves into high-quality feed, providing support for grape branch and leaf resource utilization and helping alleviate global feed shortages.