Chemical composition in soybean silages with inoculant and molasses

Abstract Chemical composition was assessed in soybean silages without any additive (control), with a microbial inoculant (I), with I + molasses (I+M), and with molasses only (M). Soybean plants were harvested at the reproductive 6 (R6) stage and ensiled in 2 kg-capacity PVC laboratory silos. The SIL ALL C4 inoculant produced by Alltech Brazil was used in combination with or without 2.5% molasses added to the natural matter base. A 4 × 6 factorial arrangement (4 additives × 6 fermentation periods) in a completely randomised design with 3 replications was used. The assessed fermentation periods were 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 56 days. Excluding the dry matter and crude protein contents it was observed an interaction effect (P<0.05) between the additive and fermentation periods in the silages. It was observed higher average values of dry matter, equal 290.02 g kg-1, and crude protein, equal 151.28 g kg-1, to I+M and M silages, respectively. It was observed lowest values (P<0.05) to neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) contents in I+M silages, equal 180.47 and 125.07 g kg-1, respectively. The addition of inoculant associated or not with molasses improved affect the chemical composition of soybean silages.