Effects of molasses on the quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed ensilage of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalk

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to determine the optimal level of molasses required for ensiling the seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalks mixtures, using a 2:1 ratio of seed-used zucchini peel residue to corn stalks. The experiment included a control group (CON, with no molasses...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tengyu Wang, Zuoxing Huang, Ning Zhang, Kashaf Kareem, Xinwen Sun, Cuiling Shang, Dengke Hua, Xinfeng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1560403/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850038671315566592
author Tengyu Wang
Zuoxing Huang
Ning Zhang
Kashaf Kareem
Xinwen Sun
Cuiling Shang
Dengke Hua
Xinfeng Wang
author_facet Tengyu Wang
Zuoxing Huang
Ning Zhang
Kashaf Kareem
Xinwen Sun
Cuiling Shang
Dengke Hua
Xinfeng Wang
author_sort Tengyu Wang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe objective of this study was to determine the optimal level of molasses required for ensiling the seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalks mixtures, using a 2:1 ratio of seed-used zucchini peel residue to corn stalks. The experiment included a control group (CON, with no molasses added), a 1% molasses group (M1, 10 g kg−1 fresh matter), a 2% molasses group (M2, 20 g kg−1 fresh matter), and a 3% molasses group (M3, 30 g kg−1 fresh matter). After 60 days of fermentation, samples of the silage were collected and analyzed for their chemical composition, fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics.ResultCompared to the CON group, the addition of molasses significantly decreased both the pH and the ratio of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen (NH3-N/TN) in the ensilage mixture of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalks. In the molasses-treated groups, the pH values decreased by 0.08, 0.09, and 0.13, respectively, compared to the control group. The NH3-N/TN ratios decreased by 1.52, 1.86, and 2.24, respectively, compared to the control group. Additionally, the contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the silage with molasses were significantly lower than those in the CON group. However, the addition of molasses reduced the aerobic stability of the feed, with the 3% molasses-added group showing a significant decrease in aerobic stability. Furthermore, the addition of molasses significantly improved the ruminal degradation rates of the silage, with the M3 group showing ruminal degradation rates of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and ADF at 65.49, 55.26, and 46.18%, respectively.ConclusionThe addition of molasses is beneficial for improving the quality of the ensilage mixture of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalks, improving the nutritional components and increasing the ruminal degradation rate.
format Article
id doaj-art-124dba77f2134cd8bcd87db7d8802015
institution DOAJ
issn 2571-581X
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
spelling doaj-art-124dba77f2134cd8bcd87db7d88020152025-08-20T02:56:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-03-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.15604031560403Effects of molasses on the quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed ensilage of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalkTengyu Wang0Zuoxing Huang1Ning Zhang2Kashaf Kareem3Xinwen Sun4Cuiling Shang5Dengke Hua6Xinfeng Wang7Laboratory of Forage Comprehensive Utilization, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China10th Division Livestock and Veterinary Workstation, Beitun, ChinaLaboratory of Forage Comprehensive Utilization, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, ChinaDepartment of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad, PakistanLaboratory of Forage Comprehensive Utilization, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, ChinaLaboratory of Forage Comprehensive Utilization, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, ChinaLaboratory of Forage Comprehensive Utilization, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, ChinaLaboratory of Forage Comprehensive Utilization, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, ChinaBackgroundThe objective of this study was to determine the optimal level of molasses required for ensiling the seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalks mixtures, using a 2:1 ratio of seed-used zucchini peel residue to corn stalks. The experiment included a control group (CON, with no molasses added), a 1% molasses group (M1, 10 g kg−1 fresh matter), a 2% molasses group (M2, 20 g kg−1 fresh matter), and a 3% molasses group (M3, 30 g kg−1 fresh matter). After 60 days of fermentation, samples of the silage were collected and analyzed for their chemical composition, fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics.ResultCompared to the CON group, the addition of molasses significantly decreased both the pH and the ratio of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen (NH3-N/TN) in the ensilage mixture of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalks. In the molasses-treated groups, the pH values decreased by 0.08, 0.09, and 0.13, respectively, compared to the control group. The NH3-N/TN ratios decreased by 1.52, 1.86, and 2.24, respectively, compared to the control group. Additionally, the contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the silage with molasses were significantly lower than those in the CON group. However, the addition of molasses reduced the aerobic stability of the feed, with the 3% molasses-added group showing a significant decrease in aerobic stability. Furthermore, the addition of molasses significantly improved the ruminal degradation rates of the silage, with the M3 group showing ruminal degradation rates of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and ADF at 65.49, 55.26, and 46.18%, respectively.ConclusionThe addition of molasses is beneficial for improving the quality of the ensilage mixture of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalks, improving the nutritional components and increasing the ruminal degradation rate.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1560403/fullseed-used zucchini peel residuecorn stalkmolassesaerobic stabilityruminal degradation characteristics
spellingShingle Tengyu Wang
Zuoxing Huang
Ning Zhang
Kashaf Kareem
Xinwen Sun
Cuiling Shang
Dengke Hua
Xinfeng Wang
Effects of molasses on the quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed ensilage of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalk
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
seed-used zucchini peel residue
corn stalk
molasses
aerobic stability
ruminal degradation characteristics
title Effects of molasses on the quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed ensilage of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalk
title_full Effects of molasses on the quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed ensilage of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalk
title_fullStr Effects of molasses on the quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed ensilage of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalk
title_full_unstemmed Effects of molasses on the quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed ensilage of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalk
title_short Effects of molasses on the quality, aerobic stability, and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed ensilage of seed-used zucchini peel residue and corn stalk
title_sort effects of molasses on the quality aerobic stability and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed ensilage of seed used zucchini peel residue and corn stalk
topic seed-used zucchini peel residue
corn stalk
molasses
aerobic stability
ruminal degradation characteristics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1560403/full
work_keys_str_mv AT tengyuwang effectsofmolassesonthequalityaerobicstabilityandruminaldegradationcharacteristicsofmixedensilageofseedusedzucchinipeelresidueandcornstalk
AT zuoxinghuang effectsofmolassesonthequalityaerobicstabilityandruminaldegradationcharacteristicsofmixedensilageofseedusedzucchinipeelresidueandcornstalk
AT ningzhang effectsofmolassesonthequalityaerobicstabilityandruminaldegradationcharacteristicsofmixedensilageofseedusedzucchinipeelresidueandcornstalk
AT kashafkareem effectsofmolassesonthequalityaerobicstabilityandruminaldegradationcharacteristicsofmixedensilageofseedusedzucchinipeelresidueandcornstalk
AT xinwensun effectsofmolassesonthequalityaerobicstabilityandruminaldegradationcharacteristicsofmixedensilageofseedusedzucchinipeelresidueandcornstalk
AT cuilingshang effectsofmolassesonthequalityaerobicstabilityandruminaldegradationcharacteristicsofmixedensilageofseedusedzucchinipeelresidueandcornstalk
AT dengkehua effectsofmolassesonthequalityaerobicstabilityandruminaldegradationcharacteristicsofmixedensilageofseedusedzucchinipeelresidueandcornstalk
AT xinfengwang effectsofmolassesonthequalityaerobicstabilityandruminaldegradationcharacteristicsofmixedensilageofseedusedzucchinipeelresidueandcornstalk