Avaliação da eficiência de doses crescentes de inoculante microbiano para silagem de milho e capim

Abstract

Cattle farming plays a significant role in promoting food security and the Brazilian economy, contributing to rural livelihoods. Forage conservation, especially during periods of pasture scarcity, is essential for maintaining herd productivity, particularly in a scenario of climate change that impacts rainfall patterns. Silage-making is a key technique in this context, enabling the preservation of forage with high nutritional value through anaerobic fermentation. The use of additives, such as microbial inoculants, enhances this process by inhibiting undesirable microorganisms, increasing aerobic stability, and reducing nutritional losses. This study evaluated the influence of increasing doses of the SiloSolve® AS inoculant (composed of Lactobacillus buchneri, Enterococcus faecium, and Lactobacillus plantarum) on the fermentative and aerobic quality of silages in two trials: one with "capim batatais" (Paspalum notatum L.) and another with corn (Zea mays L.). The scientific literature presents divergent results regarding the effect of increasing inoculant doses on silage quality; therefore, doses of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 g/t were tested for capim batatais, and 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g/t for corn, with the commercial dose being 2 g/t. In the first trial, parameters such as color, odor, and the presence of microbial colonies were analyzed, while the second trial included dry matter loss and thermal behavior in addition to the parameters evaluated in the first trial. The results showed that the use of the inoculant reduced fermentative losses and improved aerobic stability in the second trial, as well as enhanced the sensory quality of the silages in the first trial, with greater effectiveness at doses higher than those recommended.