Effect of different additives on the silage quality of sweet potato branches

Abstract

Sweet potato branches have potential use in animal feeding, even fresh or ensiled, and some additives may enhance their quality. This study aimed at assessing silage quality of sweet potato branches using different additives. We ensiled sweet potato branches without additive (control) and with the addition of 10% disintegrated corn with straw and corncob (DCSC), 10% sugarcane bagasse from alembic, 10% citrus pulp, and 10% coffee husk. Three samples of each plot were obtained after drying for measurements of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, mineral matter, starch, soluble sugars, pH, lactic acid bacteria population, gas, and effluent losses. Silage with DCSC, citrus pulp, and coffee rusk reached the highest dry matter contents. Moreover, citrus pulp silage had a high content of NDF. In contrast, DCSC silage showed the lowest content of ADF. Lignin was low in silage with DCSC, citrus pulp, and control (without additive). Suitable amounts of starch, crude protein, and lactic acid bacteria population were found in all treatments. Silage with DCSC achieved the best results for the assessed variables. Therefore, DCSC is the most suitable additive to improve silage quality of sweet potato branches.