Chemical composition and silage quality of urea, molasses, and urea and molasses ensiled soybean husk

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of additives treatment on the chemical composition and silage quality of soybean husk in a 28-day experiment, using completely randomised design. Soybean husk was chopped into 1-3 cm length and ensiled in a laboratory silo. There were four treatments consisting of the control (no additive treatment; T1), urea treatment (T2), molasses treatment (T3) and urea and molasses treatment (T4). The colour of the silages was goldenrod, dark goldenrod, peru and burly wood for T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Except for T2 which had a pungent smell, silage smell was generally pleasant. All the silages had firm texture. Silage temperature, ether extract and propionic acid were (P>0.05) not affected by treatments. Silage dry matter and ammonia-nitrogen were higher (P<0.05) in T2 than in other treatments. Silage organic matter, non-fibre carbohydrates, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, hemicellulose, cellulose and butyric acid were higher P<0.05) in the control relative to the additive treatments. Crude protein of the silages was lowest and highest (P<0.05) in T1 and T4 respectively. Silage pH was lower in T3 than in other treatments. Acetic and lactic acids of the silages were affected by additives treatment, and increased in the order: T1 < T2 < T3 < T4 (P<0.05). In conclusion, additives treatment enhanced the nutritive and fermentation qualities of soybean husk. However, urea and molasses treatment produced the best results.