Effect of mixing proportion on fermentation quality of corn stalk and Broussonetia papyrifera silage.

The experiment was conducted to study effect of mixed proportion silage of corn straw and Broussonetia papyrifera on fermentation quality of silage. Using corn straw and Broussonetia papyrifera as raw materials, the silage was divided into seven groups, with four replicates in each group, and 200 g in each replicate. No addition of B. papyrifera (group C), 9: 1 (group C9P1), 8 : 2 (group C8P2), 7 : 3 (group C7P3), 5 : 5 (group C5P5), 3 : 7 (group C3P7), and no addition of corn straw (group P). After 45 d of silage, samples were taken to analyze the silage quality and nutritional components. The results showed that mixed with B. papyrifera could improve the dry matter, water soluble carbohydrates content, buffering capacity and fermentation coefficient of the original materials. Compared with group P, pH value, acetic acid, butyric acid, dry matter and crude protein content of group C3P7, group C5P5, group C7P.3, group C8P2, C9P1 group and group C were significantly decreased (P<0.05), sensory score, lactic acid content, lactic acid/acetic acid and Fleig score were significantly increased (P<0.05). The sensory scores of group C and group C9P1 were excellent, while those of group C8P2 and group C7P3 were good. There was no significant difference in ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen and Fleig score between group C, group C9P1 and group C8P2 (P>0.05), and butyric acid was not detected in above groups. There was no significant difference in dry matter content among group C, group C9P1, group C8P2 and group C7P.3 (P>0.05), and no significant difference in crude protein content between group C8P2 and group C7P.3 (P>0.05). The experiment indicates that considering the fermentation quality and nutrient content, 8 : 2 mixing proportion of corn stalk and B. papyrifera is optimal for silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]