The effects of fibrolytic enzymes, cellulolytic fungi and bacteria on the fermentation characteristics, structural carbohydrates degradation, and enzymatic conversion yields of Pennisetum sinese silage

Abstract

Biological inoculants were tested on Pennisetum sinese for their effects on fermentation characteristics, structural carbohydrates degradation, and enzymatic conversion yields. Pennisetum sinese was ensiled without additive, Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp), Trichoderma reesei (Tr), fibrolytic enzymes (E), and Enterococcus faecium (Y83) for 90 days. Y83 silages had higher LA and lower AA, ammonia-N and DM loss as compared to E and Tr silages. Tr and E had superior effects for degrading lignocellulose while Y83 had intermediate effects. The first-order exponential decay models (R² = 0.928-0.998) predicted nonstructural carbohydrates kinetics and demonstrated high water soluble carbohydrate (g/kg DM) preservation potential in Y83 (21.40), followed by Tr (18.94) and E (16.74). Addition of Y83 improved the conversion efficiency of P. sinese silage than Tr and E, indicated by higher glucose and total reducing sugars yield (22.49 and 36.89 w/w % DM, respectively). In conclusion, Y83 can be exploited for the ensiling lignocellulosic biomass before grass processing.

Keywords: Cellulolytic microorganisms; Ensiling; Enzymatic hydrolysis; Lignocellulose; Pennisetum sinese.