Fermentation Quality and Chemical Composition of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Silage Inoculated with Bacterial Starter Cultures—A Pilot Study

Abstract

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a plant species cultivated as a raw material for fiber extraction. Alternatively, hemp biomass can be used for feeding or energy purposes. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of inoculation with a lactic acid bacteria starter culture on the fermentation and chemical compositions of hemp silages. Hemp shoots (HS) and hemp flowers (HF) were ensiled in mini laboratory silos without or with the inoculation of the commercial starter culture Lactosil Biogaz (Lentilactobacillus buchnerii KKP 907 p; L. buchneri A KKP 2047 p; Pediococcus acidilactici KKP 2065 p). After 7 and 42 days of ensiling, the fermentation quality and chemical compositions of the silages were assessed. The use of Lactosil Biogas for hemp resulted in a decrease in pH, increase in lactic acid (LA), and reduction in fungal abundance in the HS silage. In the case of the HF silage, the bacterial inoculation was less effective; however, an increase in LA and a decrease in butyric acid (BA) were observed. As a result of the ensilage process, decreases in crude fiber and hemicellulose were observed in the HS and HF silages. Thus, hemp ensiling with biological additives is an effective pre-treatment of hemp plants for subsequent biofuel production that can preserve the biomass and provide the year-round availability of feedstock.