Effect of Energy, Protein and Microbial Inoculants Additives on Chemical Composition and Fermentation Characteristics of Corn Stover Silage

Corn stover was taken after harvesting the ears immediately, chopped using a harvester chopper machine to 1.5-2.0 cm of length, and supplemented with energy additive (corn grains and molasses), protein additive (soybean, urea, and optegin) and microbial inoculants (effective microorganisms EM1) and their interactions and ensiled in plastic bags for 45 days. After the ensiling period, representative samples were taken for determination of chemical composition and silage quality traits. Adding ground corn grains to corn stover silage led to a significant (P<0.05) increase in DM content. Moreover, NFE content of corn stover silage increased significantly (P<0.05), however, ash content decreased significantly (P<0.05) with molasses and ground corn grains supplementation. Soybean meal supplementation increased significantly (P<0.05) DM content than those of urea and optigen supplementation with insignificant differences with control. The crude protein content of corn stover silage increased significantly (P<0.05) with soybean meal, urea, and optigen supplementation. Ash content decreased significantly (P<0.05) with soybean meal supplementation. Effective microbes supplementation led to a significant (P<0.05) increase in the contents of CP and NFE of corn stover silage and a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the contents of CF and ash. The interaction between energy and protein supplementation showed a significant difference (P<0.05) in DM content only. Interactions among energy, protein, and effective microbes supplementation showed a significant differences (P<0.05) in DM content only. The pH value of the silage decreased significantly (P<0.05), however lactic acid concentration increased significantly (P<0.05) with molasses and ground corn grains supplementation. The pH value of silage was higher significantly (P<0.05) with urea and optigen compared to control and soybean supplementation. Urea-supplemented silage recorded significantly (P<0.05) the NH 3 -N concentration followed by optigen, then soybean meal, whoever control had the lowest concentration. Moreover, soybean meal- supplemented silage showed significantly (P<0.05) higher concentrations of TVFA’s and lactic acid compared to urea-supplemented silage. The concentrations of NH 3 -N and lactic acid increased significantly (P<0.05) with effective microbes supplement to corn stover silage. Energy and protein supplementation interaction revealed that urea with molasses or ground corn grains recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher pH values and NH 3 -H concentration of silage compared to soybean with molasses or ground corn grains. However, soybean meal with molasses or ground corn grains recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher concentrations of TVFA’s and lactic acid in silage compared to urea with molasses or ground corn grains. The interaction between protein and effective microbes showed that urea with EM1 supplemented silage had significantly (P<0.05) higher pH value and NH 3 -N concentration and lower TVFA’s and lactic acid concentrations than those of soybean meal with EM1. The interaction among energy, protein, and effective microbes showed that molasses or ground corn grains with urea plus EM1 supplemented silages had significantly (P<0.05) higher pH value and NH 3 -N concentration and lower TVFA’s and lactic acid concentrations than those of molasses or ground corn grains with soybean meal plus EM1.