Effects of Supplemental Levels of Spent Mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) Substrates on Chemical Composition and Quality of Whole Crop Sorghum Silage

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the supplemental level of spent mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) substrates as an energy source in manufacturing of high moisture sorghum whole crop silage. Whole crop sorghum was harvested at heading stage and ensiled with spent mushroom substrates of 20% (S-20), 40% (S-40) and 60% (S-60) as fresh matter basis. Each silage was manufactured in plastic buckets included vinyl bag by three replications and stored for 0, 3, 6 and 9 weeks, respectively. Fermentation characteristics and quality of sorghum silages manufactured by supplemental level of spent mushroom substrates were as follows. Moisture contents of whole crop sorghum and spent mushroom substrates were 83.85% and 54.3%, respectively, and that of silages was 78% for S-20, 71% for S-40 and 68% for S-60. Ether extracts content of silages was significantly (P<0.05) increased during the fermentation periods. The pH in silages fermented for 3 weeks and above ranged from 4.24 to 4.42, and the decrease of pH by fermentation was relatively greater in S-40 compare to the other treatments. The lactic acid content of silage inclined that the S-40 was higher compared to the other treatments and decreased with elongation of fermentation period of silage. The contents of acetic acid and propionic acid of silages were not influenced by treatments and fermentation period. Flieg's score for estimation of silage quality ranged from 60 to 83, and was relatively high quality in the S-40 fermented for 9 week, and was relatively low quality in the S-60 fermented for 9 week. From above results, we suggest that 40% supplementation of spent Flammulina velutipes mushroom substrates as an energy source is resonable level in manufacturing of high moisture sorghum whole crop silage.