AUTHOR=Yang Fengyuan , Wang Yanping , Zhao Shanshan , Wang Yuan 

TITLE=Lactobacillus plantarum Inoculants Delay Spoilage of High Moisture Alfalfa Silages by Regulating Bacterial Community Composition

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01989

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.01989

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism of <italic>Lactobacillus plantarum</italic> (<italic>L. plantarum</italic>) involved in improving fermentation quality of naturally ensiled alfalfa under poor conditions. High-moisture wilted alfalfa was ensiled without inoculants (CK) or with inoculation of two <italic>L. plantarum</italic> additives (LPI and LPII). The pH and fermentation products of silage were determined after 30 and 90 days of ensiling. Additionally, the bacterial community compositions were analyzed. The <italic>L. plantarum</italic> inoculants significantly promoted lactic acid accumulation, and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> abundance for both periods. At 90 days, silage in CK exhibited a high pH, a loss in dry matter, and a high concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen. The inoculations of <italic>L. plantarum</italic> significantly inhibited the growth of Clostridia, and reduced ammoniacal nitrogen concentration in silage (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Thus, inoculation with <italic>L. plantarum</italic> improved the fermentation quality of alfalfa silage and inhibited the growth of spoilage microorganisms, and further delayed spoilage of alfalfa silage under adverse ensiling conditions.</p>