<b>Fermentation quality and chemical and bromatological characteristics of foliage and roots of silage cassava (<em>Manihot esculenta</em> Crantz)</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v32i4.8930

Abstract

The effects of wilting and root inclusion (0, 15, 30 and 45% natural matter) on the chemical and bromatological composition coupled to silage fermentation parameters of cassava foliage silages were evaluated. Wilting affected significantly dry matter content (DM), density and pH values (p < 0.05) of silages at all root addition levels. Root inclusion increased silages DM contents by 0.128 and 0.261%; densities increased by 1.79 and 4.54 kg m^-3; pH values were reduced by 0.0007 and 0.0062) respectively in wilted silages or not wilted ones for every included root percentage unit. All parameters, with the exception of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and lignin contents, showed significant interaction between wilting and root inclusion. Wilting increased ADF and lignin contents respectively by 4.52 and 12.86%, whereas root inclusion caused a linear decrease in both. Silage root addition decreased linearly neutral detergent fiber rates and conversely wilting increased them. The opposite occurred with crude protein contents, with minimum rates 8.99 and 11.03 and maximum ones 18.01 and 20.9% DM values, respectively in silages with and without wilting.