Variation of Epiphytic Flora Affecting Silage Quality in Pure and Mixed Mung Bean and Sweet Sorghum

İbrahim Erteki̇n,Şaban Yilmaz

doi:10.47115/bsagriculture.1069811

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the microorganism population affecting silage quality of sweet sorghum and mung bean cultivated with different sowing patterns as mixture or sole crop. Twin row (20×55 cm row spacing), narrow row (55 cm row spacing) and conventional row (75 cm row spacing) were used as mixture sowing patterns. The mixtures were formed based on the plant densities and alternative row numbers of sweet sorghum and mung bean. Sowing was made on alternation rows of 1 row mung bean plus 1 row sweet sorghum (R1:1) and 1 row mung bean plus 2 rows sweet sorghum (R1:2). In pure and mixed cultivations, the plant density of sorghum was 14 plants m-2 while the plant densities of mung bean were 14, 21 and 28 plants m-2. The experiment was planned as two-factors (sowing patterns and mixtures) and was arranged in randomized blocks according to the split plot design with 3 replications. Pure and mixed plants were harvested when the sweet sorghum plant reached the dough stage. Lactic acid bacteria, enterobacteria and yeast and mold populations in the plant epiphytic flora were investigated under experimental factors. There were significant effects of the main factors and their interactions on the plant epiphytic microorganisms. According to the results obtained from the current study, mixed cultivation of sweet sorghum and mung bean in conventional row pattern improved the desired lactic acid bacteria population for silage quality, while reducing the undesirable enterobacteria and yeast and mold population for silage quality. It was determined that the (R1:2) MB14+SS14 mixed cultivation system was the most suitable mixture in conventional row pattern in terms of high lactic acid bacteria population.

Highlights

The product formed as a result of fermentation of forage plants in an oxygen-free environment is silage (Kizilsimsek et al, 2017)
Lactic acid bacteria, enterobacteria and yeast and mold populations in the epiphytic flora of mung beans and sweet sorghum plants grown with different sowing patterns and intercropping systems and affecting silage quality were investigated
A very high lactic acid population was detected in the epiphytic flora of pure sweet sorghum, and this situation was positively reflected in the number of lactic acid bacteria in the epiphytic flora of intercropping systems

Summary

Introduction

The product formed as a result of fermentation of forage plants in an oxygen-free environment is silage (Kizilsimsek et al, 2017). The factors affecting the fermentation quality in silage production depend on the chemical composition and dry matter content of the ensiled plants. In addition to these features, the epiphytic (natural) flora of the plants entering the silo is an important factor (Kung et al, 2018). Lactic acid bacteria represent desirable microorganisms, while enterobacteria, yeast and molds are in the undesirable class (Santos et al, 2015) These microorganisms can cause a wide variety of end products to occur in the silo (Kung and Shaver, 2001). The insufficient lactic acid bacteria population of an ensiled forage plant may delay fermentation and increase nutrient loss in the silo (Kızılşimşek et al, 2016). It was aimed to examine the microbial population in the epiphytic flora of sweet sorghum and mung beans grown with different sowing patterns and mixed growing systems and to facilitate the storage of forage by ensiling

Methods

Results

Conclusion