Fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of corn silages inoculated with “Bacillus subtilis”

Abstract

The aim with this present study to evaluate the effects of inoculation of Bacillus subtilis on the fermentation characteristics and losses, on the development of yeasts and molds and aerobic stability of corn silages. The corn studied was the hybrid 2B655 with the next treatments: untreated silage (control) and corn silages inoculated with B. subtilis in the concentrations of 5x104; 1x105 and 5x105cfu/g of fresh forage. The experimental design was completely randomized in a split-plot, in which the silage was the main plots and the exposure times aerobic sub-plots with four replications. The data were subjected to analysis of variance using SISVAR ® software, applying regression analysis to 5% significance level. The inoculation of B. subtilis did not alter the fermentation characteristics and losses. The yeast count was reduced at the time of opening of the silo, as the molds population decreased during the air exposure, which resulted in lower pH values. These facts resulted in increase aerobic stability when the highest dose of B. subtilis was applied. The inoculation of B. subtilis in the concentration of 5x105cfu/g forage controls the growth of yeasts and improves the aerobic stability in corn silage, while maintaining the pH more stable in the post-opening of the silos.