Ensiling characteristics, proteolysis and bacterial community of high-moisture corn stalk and stylo silage prepared with Bauhinia variegate flower.

Abstract

Bauhinia variegate flower (BVF) was supposed to improve silage fermentation due to its abundant active components. Thus, corn stalk and stylo were ensiled with addition of 0, 5% or 10% BVF, and then ensiling characteristics, protein fraction and bacterial community were analyzed after 60-day fermentation. The contents of butyric acid (2.9 vs not detected, 13.2 vs 3.0\u202fg/kg DM in corn stalk and stylo silage, respectively), ammonia-N (100.2 vs 83.2, 110.8 vs 61.9\u202fg/kg total N) and free amino acid (35.6 vs 16.5, 35.0 vs 16.4\u202fg/kg total N) were decreased in 10% BVF treated silages. The bacterial diversity was increased, where the relative abundance of Enterobacter or Clostridium decreased and that of lactic acid producing bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Weissella or Enterococcus increased. It is suggested that BVF could be used to improve fermentation quality and nutrient preservation of high-moisture corn stalk and stylo silage.