Effect of Molasses on Nutritional Quality of Cassava and Gliricidia Tops Silage

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the influence of molasses in ensiling cassava and Gliricidia tops, common crop residues in the farming systems of Vietnam. Four levels of sugarcane molasses: 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg per tonne of fresh material, and two storage periods (2 and 4 months) for each of the two plant species: Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) and Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium, Jacq.) were allocated in a 4x2 factorial completely randomized block design with 3 replicates. A total of 48 plastic bags, each one containing 10 kg herbage were used. Based on the colour, smell and mold appearance, all the silages were considered to be acceptable but with more spoiled silages with higher levels of additives. DM of herbages (25.8% and 22.4% in cassava and Gliricidia tops, respectively) were not changed during ensiling and the molasses additive had no significant effect on the silage DM. Contents of CP and NDF in the cassava tops silage decreased significantly with increased level of molasses and storage period, respectively. The mean pH values of non-molasses silages were 4.39 in cassava tops and 4.60 in Gliricidia tops. Increased additive levels significantly reduced silage pH in Gliricidia (p<0.01) but not in cassava tops silage (p=0.10). Longer storage period significantly reduced pH in both silages. The water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations of cassava tops and Gliricidia tops were reduced by 90 and 80%, respectively, after ensiling. Molasses addition increased significantly the silage WSC concentrations. HCN contents in the fresh cassava and Gliricidia tops were reduced by 68 and 43%, respectively, after 2 months ensiling, and were continuously reduced during storage. A reduction of 25% and 42% in the tannin content of fresh cassava and Gliricidia tops, respectively was found after ensiling. Storage time and molasses additive had little affect on the tannin content. Silage lactic acid concentrations were around 1,0% of DM in cassava and 1.7% of DM in Gliricidia top silages, and no effect of molasses additive and storage time was found. It is concluded that cassava and Gliricidia tops residues can be preserved successfully by ensiling, and only low levels of molasses additive are needed to improve silage fermentation.