Effects of Multi-Strain Microbial Inoculants on Fermentation Quality and In Vitro Digestibility of Rice Straw Silage

Article Sidebar

PDF
Published: Jul 5, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14456/jsay.2026.2
Keywords:
Rice straw silage Multi-strain Inoculants Lignocellulose degradation In vitro gas production Rumen fermentation

Main Article Content

จีระศักดิ์ ทองสีลา
มหาลัยพะเยา

Abstract

Rice straw is one of the most widely available agricultural by-products in Thailand. However, its direct use as ruminant feed is constrained by low crude protein concentration, high structural fiber content, and the presence of a lignocellulosic matrix that limits microbial degradation in the rumen. This study evaluated the effects of selected microbial inoculant combinations on fermentation quality, chemical composition, fiber fractions, and in vitro gas production of rice straw silage. Chopped rice straw was assigned to five microbial treatments in a completely randomized design with three replications: T1, Trichoderma reesei ; T2, Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; T3, T. reesei+S. cerevisiae ; T4, T. reesei+S. cerevisiae+Bacillus licheniformis ; and T5,  T. reesei+S. cerevisiae+Lactobacillus plantarum. The treated materials were ensiled under anaerobic conditions and evaluated after 7, 14, 21, and 28 days of fermentation. Microbial inoculation significantly influenced fiber degradation, particularly neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) (P < 0.001). Among the treatments, T5 showed the most favorable response after 28 days of fermentation, with the lowest NDF (69.47%), ADF (47.66%), and ADL (19.02%) values. The lowest pH value was also observed in T5 at 21 days (4.65), suggesting improved acidification during ensiling. In vitro gas production differed significantly among treatments at 28 days (P < 0.01), with T5 producing the highest gas volume (74.5 mL), indicating greater ruminal fermentability. These results suggest that the combined application of cellulolytic fungi, yeast, and lactic acid bacteria can enhance lignocellulose degradation and improve the feeding value of rice straw silage. Therefore, the inoculant combination of T. reesei+S. cerevisiae+L. plantarum may be considered a promising biological strategy for improving the utilization of rice straw in ruminant production systems.

Article Details

How to Cite
ทองสีลา จ. (2026). Effects of Multi-Strain Microbial Inoculants on Fermentation Quality and In Vitro Digestibility of Rice Straw Silage. Journal of Science and Agricultural Technology, 7(1), 8–14. https://doi.org/10.14456/jsay.2026.2
Issue
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): January-June
Section
Research Article
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References

AOAC. (2000). Official methods of analysis (17th ed.). Association of Official Analytical Chemists.

Cai, Y., Benno, Y., Ogawa, M., & Kumai, S. (1999). Effect of applying lactic acid bacteria isolated from forage crops on fermentation characteristics and aerobic deterioration of silage. Journal of Dairy Science, 82(3), 520-526. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds. S0022-0302(99)75263-X

Chaucheyras-Durand, F., & Fonty, G. (2002). Influence of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on rumen microbial ecosystem and digestion in ruminants. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 98(1-2), 1-16. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/S0377-8401(02)00007-1

FAO. (2026). GIEWS country brief: Thailand. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Getachew, G., Robinson, P. H., DePeters, E. J., & Taylor, S. J. (2004). Relationships between chemical composition, dry matter degradation and in vitro gas production of several ruminant feeds.Animal Feed Science and Technology, 111(1-4), 57-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.anifeedsci.2003.05.015

Kung, L., Jr., Shaver, R. D., Grant, R. J., & Schmidt, R. J. (2018). Silage review: Interpretation of chemical, microbial, and organoleptic components of silages. Journal of Dairy Science, 101(5), 4020-4033. https://doi.org/10.3168/ jds.2017-13909

McDonald, P., Henderson, A. R., & Heron, S. J. E. (1991). The biochemistry of silage (2nd ed.). Chalcombe Publications.

Menke, K. H., & Steingass, H. (1988). Estimation of the energetic feed value obtained from chemical analysis and in vitro gas production using rumen fluid. Animal Research and Development, 28, 7-55.

Muck, R. E. (2010). Silage microbiology and its control through additives. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 39, 183-191.

Oliveira, A. S., Weinberg, Z. G., Ogunade, I. M., Cervantes, A. A., Arriola, K. G., Jiang, Y., Kim, D., Li, X., Goncalves, M. C. M., Vyas, D., & Adesogan, A. T. (2017). Meta-analysis of effects of inoculation with homofermentative and facultative heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria on silage fermentation and animal performance. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(6), 4587-4603. https://doi.org/10. 3168/jds.2016-11815

Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B., & Lewis, B. A. (1991). Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(10), 3583-3597. https://doi.org/10. 3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2

Wan, C., & Li, Y. (2012). Fungal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. Biotechnology Advances, 30(6), 1447-1457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2012.03.003

Weinberg, Z. G., & Muck, R. E. (1996). New trends and opportunities in the development and use of inoculants for silage. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 19(1), 53-68. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6976.1996.tb00253.x.