A Preliminary Investigation on Bacterial Diversity and Fermentation Quality of High-Moisture Alfalfa Silage Prepared with Biochar

Xuan Zou,Xiang Guo,Mingyang Zheng,Xiaoyang Chen,Mingya Wang,Shuo Wu,Qing Zhang

doi:10.3390/agronomy11101971

Abstract

The fermentation quality of alfalfa silage is poor but can be improved with additives. This study investigates the effects of biochar on the fermentation quality and bacterial diversity of high-moisture alfalfa silage. Alfalfa was treated with: (i) control without additive (CK); (ii) 1% biochar (1% carbon C); (iii) 2% biochar (2% C), and fermented for 15 or 30 d. Mixing alfalfa with biochar significantly decreased (p < 0.05) pH, the number of coliform bacteria, nonprotein nitrogen content, and ammonia–nitrogen content, and significantly increased the contents of dry matter, lactic acid, and true protein. The addition of biochar also influenced bacterial community distribution. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus increased while the abundance of Pantoea decreased with biochar treatment. In conclusion, alfalfa silage’s fermentation quality and microbial community structure are improved by adding biochar from the pyrolysis of waste furniture.

Highlights

Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong
The crude protein (CP) content (14.1% dry matter (DM)) of alfalfa was slightly lower than that reported by Wang et al [23], and this difference may have been due to a different climate, fertilization, or harvest time
This study revealed that mixing biochar to alfalfa silage positively asserted its fermen4

Summary

Introduction

Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong. This study investigates the effects of biochar on the fermentation quality and bacterial diversity of high-moisture alfalfa silage. Alfalfa was treated with: (i) control without additive (CK); (ii) 1%. Biochar (1% carbon C); (iii) 2% biochar (2% C), and fermented for 15 or 30 d. Mixing alfalfa with biochar significantly decreased (p < 0.05) pH, the number of coliform bacteria, nonprotein nitrogen content, and ammonia–nitrogen content, and significantly increased the contents of dry matter, lactic acid, and true protein. The addition of biochar influenced bacterial community distribution. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus increased while the abundance of Pantoea decreased with biochar treatment. Alfalfa silage’s fermentation quality and microbial community structure are improved by adding biochar from the pyrolysis of waste furniture. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations

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Conclusion