Determining the nutritional value of the spent mushroom compost after soil removal ensiled with molasses

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics and nutritional value of spent button mushroom compost (SBMC) silages prepared by soil removal and adding different levels of molasses in a completely randomized design. Firstly, the soil in a part of SBMC was removed by washing method. Treatments (1 + 5 treatments) were consisted of 1) SBMC without adding of molasses (control), 2) SBMC plus 7.5% molasses, 3) SBMC plus 15% molasses, 4) washed SBMC plus 7.5% molasses and 5) washed SBMC plus 15% molasses that ensiled for 60 days. Corn silage was used (as a typical silage) for comparison. Dry matter, chemical composition, lactic acid, total volatile fatty acids, water soluble carbohydrates and ammonia concentrations, pH, buffering capacity and flieg point in the silages were determined. Dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, NDF and ADF percentage before ensiling were 28.04, 55.59, 6.46, 29.69 and 27.01%, respectively for intact SBMC. Dry matter, crude protein and ADF percentage did not differ among the treatments after 60 days of ensiling (p>0.05). But, organic matter percentage increased in the treatments 4 and 5 (65.51 and 61.85%, respectively) compared with the control (p<0.05). The treatment 5 had the lowest pH (5.16) and highest lactic acid concentration (15.80 g/kg DM). The fleig point was highest in treatment 5 (66.56). Generally, the soil removal and adding 15% molasses into SBMC, improved the nutritional value of its silage.