Microbiological profile and aerobic stability of Tifton 85 bermudagrass silage with different additives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological profile and aerobic stability of silage with Tifton 85 bermudagrass and different additives and wilting. The studied treatments were: pre-drying in the sun for two hours before ensiling; use of bacterial-enzymatic inoculant; addition of soybean peel; addition of corn grits and use of salt in the surface layer of the silo. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and four replications. Plants of Tifton 85 bermudagrass with 38 days were ensiled in experimental silos with Bunsen valves, with compacting density of 236 kg silage per m³ for Tifton 85 bermudagrass, which was pre-dried in the sun; the average silage was 294 kg m-3 for the other treatments. The ratios between soybean hulls and corn grits, added to the silage, were calculated based on the initial DM content from Tifton 85 bermudagrass in order to obtain 320 g/kg DM of the material to be ensiled. There was an increase of lactic bacteria and Clostridium as well as an absence of enterobacteria after the silo opening. Fungi developed only in Tifton 85 bermudagrass and its treatments before the ensilage and yeasts developed in silages of Tifton 85 bermudagrass when they received soybean hulls or corn grits after silo opening. There was no breach regarding aerobic stability of silages during the studied period. The pH reached the highest values within 48 hours after opening the silos, but there were variations during this period.