Toward making a high‐quality silage from common reed (Phragmites australis)

Abstract The effects of the addition of molasses (5 and 10% of dry matter: DM basis; M5 and M10 respectively) with or without urea (2%; U2, U2 + M5 and U2 + M10) on chemical and mineral composition, silage quality, microbial populations, buffering capacity and fermentation/digestion characteristics of common reed ( Phragmites australis ) ensiled under anaerobic conditions were investigated. The additives changed the silage quality of common reed compared with the control. Crude protein content was significantly ( p < 0.0001) increased in urea‐containing silages, whereas ash‐free neutral detergent fibre concentration decreased in M10 compared with the control ( p = 0.05). Treatment with 2% urea (U2) resulted in the reduction of most measured minerals with a severe decrease in iron concentration. The amount of gas produced after 96 h of incubation was, respectively, higher for U2, M10, U2M10, U2M5 and M5 compared with the control ( p < 0.0001). Although the greatest in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro organic matter digestibility (96 h) were observed in U2 ( p < 0.0001), no significant differences were found between U2 and M10. Supplementation with 10% molasses (M10) significantly increased lactic acid concentration, aerobic stability and total bacteria compared with other treatments ( p < 0.0001). Moreover, DM loss ( p = 0.0004), total yeast and mould ( p < 0.0001) were significantly decreased as a result of 10% molasses treatment. Overall, it can be suggested that treating silage with 10% molasses (M10) has the potential to efficiently improve the nutritive value of common reed.