Effects of Different Inoculant Types on the Fermentation Characteristics of Silages from Various Forage Crops
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Crop Material, Microbial Inoculants, and Silage Preparation
2.2. Sampling, Chemical Analysis, and Aerobic Stability Evaluation of the Silages
2.3. Statistical Analysis
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Chemical Composition of Herbage at Harvest
3.2. Nutritional Composition, Fermentation Characteristics, and Aerobic Stability of the Silages
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| LAB | Lactic acid bacteria |
| DM | Dry matter |
| GHG | Greenhouse gas |
| WSC | Water-soluble carbohydrate |
| CP | Crude protein |
| C | control |
| PLE | Pediococcus acidilactici 33-11, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-06, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LSI, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L-256, Enterococcus faecium M74 |
| PLX | Pediococcus acidilactici 33-11, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-06, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LSI, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L-256, xylanase |
| LPELXS | Lactococcus lactis SR 3.54, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-11, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-06, Enterococcus faecium M74, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LSI, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L-256, xylanase, sodium benzoate |
| LPEL | Lactococcus lactis SR 3.54, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-11, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-06, Enterococcus faecium M74, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MiLab 393 |
| LPE | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Lactococcus lactis SR354, Pediococcus pentocaceus P6, Enterococcus faecium M74 |
| LLPE | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP256, Pediococcus pentocaceus P6, Enterococcus faecium M74 |
| LBP | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Lentilactobacilllus buchneri 1819, Pediococcus pentosaceus PC3 |
| LEP | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Enterococcus faecium M74, Pediococcus pentosaceus PC3 |
| LELX | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Enterococcus faecium M74, Lactococcus lactis SR354, xylanase |
| LEL | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Enterococcus faecium M74, Lactococcus lactis SR354 |
| BLL | Lentilactobacilllus buchneri DSM13573, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, DSM3676, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 3677 |
| CFU | colony-forming units |
| MRS | de Man–Rogosa–Sharpe |
| DMc | Corrected Dry Matter |
| ADF | Acid detergent fiber |
| NDF | Neutral detergent fiber |
| OMD | Organic matter digestibility |
| BC | Buffering capacity |
| FC | Fermentation coefficient |
| H2O | Water |
| CO2 | Carbon dioxide |
| SE | Standard error |
| N-NH3 | Ammonia N |
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| Crop | Variety (cv) | Characteristics at Harvest | Weather Conditions 2 Days Before Harvest and at Day of the Harvest. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) | Laukiai | 3-year-old, first harvest, early bud maturity stage | Prevailed sunny, rainless weather with an average daily temperature of 14 °C |
| Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) | Elena DS | 2-year-old, first harvest, boot maturity stage | Prevailed sunny, rainless weather with an average daily temperature of 17 °C |
| Red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) | Vyciai Merlinda | 2-year-old, first harvest, early bloom maturity stage of red clover | Prevailed sunny, rainless weather with an average daily temperature of 20 °C |
| # Brand Name | Abbreviation | Content | Application, cfu g−1 Forage |
|---|---|---|---|
| C (control) | Without active ingredient | ||
| Feedtech Silage F10 | * PLE | Pediococcus acidilactici 33-11, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-06, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LSI, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L-256, Enterococcus faecium M74 | 100,000 |
| Feedtech Silage F18 | PLX | Pediococcus acidilactici 33-11, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-06, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LSI, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L-256, xylanase | 100,000 |
| Feedtech Silage F22 | LPELXS | Lactococcus lactis SR354, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-11, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-06, Enterococcus faecium M74 Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LSI, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L-256, xylanase, sodium benzoate | 450,000 |
| Feedtech Silage F3000 | LPEL | Lactococcus lactis SR 354, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-11, Pediococcus acidilactici 33-06, Enterococcus faecium M74, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MiLab 393 | 500,000 |
| Feedtech Silage Custom Chop F20 | LPE | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Lactococcus lactis SR354, Pediococcus pentosaceus P6, Enterococcus faecium M74 | 200,000 |
| Feedtech Silage Custom Chop PLUS | LLPE | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP256, Pediococcus pentosaceus P6, Enterococcus faecium M74 | 200,000 |
| Feedtech Silage M25AS | LBP | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Lentilactobacilllus buchneri 1819, Pediococcus pentosaceus PC3 | 200,000 |
| Feedtech Silage M60 | LEP | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Enterococcus faecium M74, Pediococcus pentosaceus PC3 | 200,000 |
| Feedtech Silage M20XCE | LELX | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Enterococcus faecium M74, Lactococcus lactis SR354, xylanase | 200,000 |
| Feedtech Silage M20XC | LEL | Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Milab 393, Enterococcus faecium M74, Lactococcus lactis SR354 | 200,000 |
| Feedtech Silage F600 | BLL | Lentilactobacilllus buchneri DSM 13573, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, DSM 3676, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 3677 | 200,000 |
| C | PLE | PLX | LPELXS | LPEL | LPE | LLPE | LBP | LEP | LELX | LEL | BLL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | >1.0 × 102 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| 2 | >1.0 × 102 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
| 3 | >1.0 × 102 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
| Alfalfa | Perennial Ryegrass | Red Clover/Perennial Ryegrass | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | Standard Deviation | Mean | Standard Deviation | Mean | Standard Deviation | |
| Dry matter, % | 39.79 | 0.900 | 34.97 | 0.511 | 32.71 | 0.944 |
| Crude protein | 22.84 | 0.586 | 18.19 | 0.937 | 20.82 | 0.950 |
| Crude fat | 2.29 | 0.089 | 2.69 | 0.174 | 2.15 | 0.154 |
| Crude fiber | 22.65 | 0.610 | 21.93 | 1.473 | 21.37 | 1.109 |
| Crude ash | 6.53 | 0.421 | 8.06 | 0.260 | 8.22 | 0.327 |
| WSC | 4.89 | 0.194 | 11.80 | 0.698 | 10.92 | 0.669 |
| ADF | 32.79 | 2.555 | 28.36 | 3.446 | 30.07 | 1.749 |
| NDF | 42.78 | 2.444 | 38.08 | 4.856 | 41.50 | 2.343 |
| pH | 6.10 | 0.040 | 6.04 | 0.018 | 6.24 | 0.033 |
| Nitrate, mg kg−1 DM | 425.2 | 66.40 | 754.00 | 155.35 | 550.21 | 43.611 |
| BC, mEq 100 g−1 DM | 37.48 | 1.482 | 26.04 | 0.18 | 26.50 | 0.925 |
| FC | 40,83 | 1.632 | 38.59 | 1.332 | 36.00 | 0.873 |
| C | PLE | PLX | LPELXS | LPEL | LPE | LLPE | LBP | LEP | LELX | LEL | BLL | SE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa Silages | |||||||||||||
| DM | 37.29 b | 38.49 a | 38.64 a | 38.45 a | 38.43 a | 38.41 a | 38.38 a | 37.81 ab | 38.21 ab | 38.46 a | 37.99 ab | 38.15 ab | 0.214 |
| DM* | 38.46 b | 39.60 a | 39.68 a | 39.60 a | 39.60 a | 39.50 a | 39.48 a | 39.14 ab | 39.32 ab | 39.57 a | 39.10 ab | 39.49 a | 0.212 |
| CP | 19.02 c | 20.54 a | 20.66 a | 19.97 abc | 19.61 abc | 20.33 ab | 19.35 bc | 19.11 c | 19.18 c | 19.41 bc | 19.07 c | 19.09 c | 0.276 |
| WSC | 0.59 d | 0.72 cd | 1.37 a | 1.06 abc | 0.79 bcd | 0.96 abcd | 1.42 a | 0.93 abcd | 1.21 abc | 1.26 a | 1.01 abcd | 1.10 abc | 0.112 |
| NDF | 43.36 | 42.51 | 42.05 | 42.25 | 42.85 | 43.30 | 42.90 | 43.41 | 42.87 | 43.34 | 43.14 | 43.26 | 0.948 |
| ADF | 32.71 | 32.20 | 31.63 | 30.89 | 32.09 | 32.15 | 31.45 | 32.07 | 32.20 | 32.10 | 31.97 | 32.07 | 0.984 |
| Perennial ryegrass silages | |||||||||||||
| DM | 32.15 c | 33.33 a | 33.25 a | 33.33 a | 33.33 a | 33.00 ab | 33.03 ab | 33.10 a | 32.84 ab | 32.81 abc | 32.97 ab | 32.39 bc | 0.179 |
| DM* | 33.19 b | 34.21 a | 34.15 a | 34.43 a | 34.32 a | 34.01 a | 34.03 a | 34.09 a | 33.85 ab | 33.80 ab | 33.95 a | 33.99 a | 0.185 |
| CP | 17.81 | 18.14 | 18.15 | 17.89 | 18.01 | 18.28 | 18.02 | 18.05 | 18.09 | 18.25 | 18.11 | 18.02 | 0.232 |
| WSC | 0.50 ab | 0.51 ab | 0.82 a | 0.75 ab | 0.65 ab | 0.63 ab | 0.59 ab | 0.62 ab | 0.55 ab | 0.80 a | 0.61 ab | 0.34 b | 0.124 |
| NDF | 37.82 | 38.01 | 36.01 | 36.44 | 37.55 | 37.28 | 37.91 | 37.10 | 37.48 | 36.66 | 37.89 | 37.97 | 0.939 |
| ADF | 28.69 | 28.02 | 26.08 | 25.77 | 26.99 | 27.09 | 27.24 | 26.74 | 26.83 | 26.05 | 27.41 | 26.26 | 0.723 |
| Red clover/Perennial ryegrass silages | |||||||||||||
| DM | 30.27 | 31.13 | 31.20 | 31.14 | 31.22 | 31.15 | 31.17 | 30.65 | 30.91 | 30.93 | 31.07 | 30.44 | 0.484 |
| DM* | 31.35 | 32.14 | 32.09 | 32.12 | 32.22 | 32.07 | 32.04 | 31.80 | 31.87 | 31.86 | 32.01 | 31.75 | 0.478 |
| CP | 16.04 b | 17.50 ab | 18.19 ab | 19.01 ab | 18.78 a | 19.37 a | 17.87 ab | 18.52 a | 18.81 a | 18.53 a | 18.58 a | 17.46 ab | 0.535 |
| WSC | 0.40 | 0.48 | 0.39 | 0.41 | 0.43 | 0.47 | 0.47 | 0.48 | 0.44 | 0.38 | 0.39 | 0.40 | 0.052 |
| NDF | 42.78 | 41.71 | 40.38 | 40.78 | 40.72 | 40.90 | 40.82 | 41.50 | 40.99 | 41.18 | 42.05 | 41.15 | 0.875 |
| ADF | 37.77 | 29.95 | 28.16 | 28.81 | 29.83 | 29.66 | 30.01 | 29.79 | 29.81 | 29.63 | 29.60 | 29.15 | 0.762 |
| C | PLE | PLX | LPELXS | LPEL | LPE | LLPE | LBP | LEP | LELX | LEL | BLL | SE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lactic acid | 3.40 c | 5.49 ab | 5.31 ab | 5.99 a | 5.65 a | 5.54 ab | 5.39 ab | 4.60 b | 5.41 ab | 5.63 ab | 5.30 ab | 4.94 ab | 0.289 |
| Acetic acid | 1.96 bc | 2.03 bc | 1.79 c | 2.04 bc | 2.14 b | 1.94 bc | 1.90 bc | 2.59 a | 2.15 b | 2.06 bc | 2.11 b | 2.70 a | 0.070 |
| Butyric acid | 0.182 d | 0.050 ab | 0.046 ab | 0.048 ab | 0.054 b | 0.028 a | 0.056 bc | 0.079 c | 0.056 bc | 0.047 ab | 0.051 ab | 0.060 b | 0.006 |
| Propionic acid | 0.072 bcd | 0.085 bcd | 0.067 c | 0.091 bc | 0.073 bcd | 0.064 d | 0.074 bcd | 0.094 b | 0.085 bcd | 0.089 bc | 0.075 bcd | 0.138 a | 0.005 |
| Alcohols | 1.17 d | 0.76 ab | 0.77 ab | 0.79 ab | 0.80 ab | 0.79 ab | 0.84 bc | 1.08 c | 0.69 e | 0.75 ab | 0.77 ab | 0.88 bc | 0.019 |
| Ehanol | 0.57 d | 0.23 ab | 0.22 ab | 0.21 a | 0.22 ab | 0.27 bc | 0.27 bc | 0.29 c | 0.22 ab | 0.22 ab | 0.24 abc | 0.25 abc | 0.013 |
| 1,2 propanediol | 0.21 a | 0.19 b | 0.16 c | 0.19 b | 0.19 b | 0.16 c | 0.18 b | 0.31 d | 0.14 c | 0.16 c | 0.17 c | 0.33 d | 0.008 |
| pH at day 3 | 5.31 e | 4.88 ab | 4.85 a | 4.87 a | 4.92 ab | 4.94 abc | 5.12 d | 4.98 b | 5.04 cd | 5.11 d | 5.03 cd | 5.14 d | 0.030 |
| pH at day 90 | 5.03 e | 4.68 c | 4.61 b | 4.60 ab | 4.58 ab | 4.56 a | 4.60 ab | 4.71 c | 4.78 d | 4.81 d | 4.76 d | 4.68 c | 0.010 |
| N-NH3, % kg−1 total N | 8.34 c | 5.5 ab | 5.37 a | 5.40 a | 5.74 a | 5.38 a | 5.89 ab | 6.55 b | 6.17 ab | 6.07 ab | 6.44 ab | 6.52 b | 0.212 |
| C | PLE | PLX | LPELXS | LPEL | LPE | LLPE | LBP | LEP | LELX | LEL | BLL | SE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lactic acid | 3.48 e | 5.97 bc | 6.45 ab | 7.55 a | 6.52 c | 6.38 bc | 5.76 bcd | 5.59 bcd | 6.14 bc | 5.87 bcd | 5.58 bcd | 4.74 d | 0.004 |
| Acetic acid | 1.97 bc | 1.73 c | 1.75 c | 2.28 b | 2.02 bc | 2.14 b | 2.12 b | 2.10 b | 2.16 b | 2.10 b | 2.04 bc | 3.75 a | 0.065 |
| Butyric acid | 0.164 b | 0.005 a | 0.001 a | 0.004 a | 0.002 a | 0.000 a | 0.003 a | 0.004 a | 0.013 a | 0.009 a | 0.007 a | 0.015 a | 0.011 |
| Propionic acid | 0.015 | 0.014 | 0.013 | 0.020 | 0.023 | 0.020 | 0.018 | 0.015 | 0.017 | 0.013 | 0.012 | 0.029 | 0.007 |
| Alcohols | 1.20 b | 0.74 a | 0.73 a | 0.76 a | 0.72 a | 0.75 a | 0.79 a | 0.79 a | 0.80 a | 0.78 a | 0.83 a | 1.45 b | 0.029 |
| Ehanol | 0.94 d | 0.49 ab | 0.48 ab | 0.46 a | 0.47 ab | 0.46 a | 0.52 ab | 0.52 ab | 0.51 ab | 0.53 ab | 0.56 b | 0.71 c | 0.018 |
| 1,2 propanediol | 0.19 b | 0.18 b | 0.16 c | 0.21 b | 0.18 b | 0.21 b | 0.20 b | 0.20 b | 0.21 b | 0.18 b | 0.18 b | 0.65 a | 0.017 |
| pH at day 3 | 4.82 d | 4.56 abc | 4.45 a | 4.66 c | 4.62 bc | 4.47 a | 4.50 ab | 4.54 ab | 4.61 bc | 4.64 c | 4.56 abc | 4.64 c | 0.025 |
| pH at day 90 | 4.54 f | 4.12 bc | 4.08 abc | 4.02 a | 4.01 a | 4.04 ab | 4.14 cde | 4.13 cde | 4.19 de | 4.17 de | 4.18 de | 4.22 e | 0.025 |
| N-NH3, % kg −1 total N | 7.48 g | 4.45 bc | 4.32 ab | 5.00 abcdef | 4.78 abcd | 4.16 a | 4.89 abcde | 5.70 cdef | 5.57 bcdef | 5.80 def | 6.30 fg | 6.16 efg | 0.330 |
| C | PLE | PLX | LPELXS | LPEL | LPE | LLPE | LBP | LEP | LELX | LEL | BLL | SE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lactic acid | 6.18 c | 8.95 a | 8.63 a | 9.01 a | 8.83 a | 8.51 a | 8.31 ab | 6.05 c | 7.51 abc | 8.12 abc | 7.86 abc | 6.41 bc | 0.410 |
| Acetic acid | 2.26 b | 1.96 c | 1.78 d | 1.95 cd | 1.87 cd | 1.87 cd | 1.73 d | 2.47 b | 2.06 c | 1.87 cd | 1.92 cd | 3.10 a | 0.050 |
| Butyric acid | 0.16 b | 0.03 a | 0.03 a | 0.03 a | 0.03 a | 0.02 a | 0.04 a | 0.04 a | 0.03 a | 0.07 a | 0.03 a | 0.03 a | 0.017 |
| Propionic acid | 0.017 ab | 0.018 ab | 0.019 ab | 0.021 ab | 0.031 b | 0.016 ab | 0.014 a | 0.03 b | 0.013 a | 0.009 a | 0.010 a | 0.03 b | 0.002 |
| Alcohols | 1.02 b | 0.84 d | 0.58 c | 0.68 c | 0.86 d | 0.64 c | 0.59 c | 1.21 a | 0.72 dc | 0.69 dc | 0.76 d | 1.22 a | 0.029 |
| Ehanol | 0.649 e | 0.338 d | 0.256 a | 0.298 abcd | 0.326 cd | 0.257 a | 0.266 a | 0.310 b | 0.264 ab | 0.269 abc | 0.255 a | 0.328 d | 0.014 |
| 1,2 propanediol | 0.08 b | 0.17 c | 0.07 b | 0.07 b | 0.19 c | 0.10 c | 0.06 c | 0.55 a | 0.11 c | 0.09 b | 0.13 b | 0.50 a | 0.022 |
| pH at day 3 | 4.94 e | 4.58 ab | 4.62 bcd | 4.57 ab | 4.58 abc | 4.51 a | 4.66 d | 4.65 cd | 4.60 bc | 4.68 d | 4.64 bcd | 4.69 d | 0.015 |
| pH at day 90 | 4.59 e | 4.25 abcd | 4.30 abc | 4.21 a | 4.28 bc | 4.26 ab | 4.33 c | 4.30 bc | 4.31 bc | 4.26 ab | 4.30 bc | 4.44 d | 0.011 |
| N-NH3, % kg−1 total N | 4.83 d | 3.29 ab | 3.50 abc | 3.54 abc | 3.03 a | 3.26 ab | 3.85 abc | 4.02 abc | 3.79 abc | 3.44 abc | 3.44 abc | 4.27 cd | 0.208 |
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Jatkauskas, J.; Lanckriet, A.; Gentilini, M.; Vrotniakiene, V. Effects of Different Inoculant Types on the Fermentation Characteristics of Silages from Various Forage Crops. Agriculture 2026, 16, 583. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16050583
Jatkauskas J, Lanckriet A, Gentilini M, Vrotniakiene V. Effects of Different Inoculant Types on the Fermentation Characteristics of Silages from Various Forage Crops. Agriculture. 2026; 16(5):583. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16050583
Chicago/Turabian StyleJatkauskas, Jonas, Anouk Lanckriet, Marianna Gentilini, and Vilma Vrotniakiene. 2026. "Effects of Different Inoculant Types on the Fermentation Characteristics of Silages from Various Forage Crops" Agriculture 16, no. 5: 583. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16050583
APA StyleJatkauskas, J., Lanckriet, A., Gentilini, M., & Vrotniakiene, V. (2026). Effects of Different Inoculant Types on the Fermentation Characteristics of Silages from Various Forage Crops. Agriculture, 16(5), 583. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16050583
