Journals › Tropical Agricultural Research
Potential of the Locally Produced Lactobacillus Inoculants in Ensiling Guinea Grass ( Megathyrsus maximus ) Forage
Tropical Agricultural Research 36(1): 99–105 · 2025
https://doi.org/10.4038/tar.v36i1.8886
Abstract
Lactic acid bacteria inoculants are employed to accelerate forage ensiling ensuring silage quality. Inoculants for ensiling are not produced locally and are restricted for importation in Sri Lanka. This study evaluated the potential of locally produced, freeze-dried Lactobacillus inoculants containing Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus , and Lactobacillus oris, on ensiling of guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) forage. The experiment was conducted as a complete randomized design (CRD). Guinea grass forage harvested at the 10 % flowering stage were chopped and inoculated with each Lactobacillus (i.e. treatments ) species (i.e. 106 CFU/g fresh forage) or sprayed with deionized water (i.e. control). Six laboratory silos were prepared with each inoculant and one silo was the control. Silage samples were taken from 3 silos opened at 2 weeks and from the remaining 3 silos at 52 weeks post-ensiling. All samples were assessed for pH value and lactic acid content. In addition, the samples taken at 52 weeks were analyzed for organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) content. Guinea grass ensiled with Lactobacillus exhibited significantly (P
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