Effect of molasses levels on chemical composition of ensiled vegetable soybean pod hulls

Thi Ngoc Trang Nguyen1,
1 Faculty of Natural Resources – Environment, Kien Giang University, Vietnam

Main Article Content

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at An Giang University to determine the effects of molasses supplementation on the silage quality of edamame pod husks. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four treatments of molasses addition at 0, 1, 2, and 3% levels, each with four replications. Each experimental unit consisted of a 2 kg silage bag of edamame pod husks under anaerobic conditions, monitored at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days.
Results showed that molasses supplementation had positive effects on silage quality. At 28 days, the pH values of treatments with 0, 1, 2, and 3% molasses were 6.13, 4.38, 4.02, and 3.80, respectively (P<0.05). The control treatment maintained high pH (>6.0), indicating poor fermentation efficiency.
Ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) content decreased significantly with molasses supplementation. After 7 days, NH₃-N in the control was highest (1,046 mg/kg), while treatments supplemented with 1, 2, and 3% molasses had concentrations of 786, 595, and 531 mg/kg, respectively (P<0.05). The original edamame pod husks contained 16.96% dry matter and 15.12% crude protein, which were well preserved after ensiling.
The study concludes that a 2% molasses supplementation level is optimal for producing high-quality silage. This method efficiently utilizes agricultural by-products, thereby minimizing waste from agricultural residues in ruminant livestock production, while simultaneously contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from natural decomposition processes of by-products, limiting soil and water pollution, and creating a sustainable and environmentally-friendly circular economy model.

Article Details

References

AOAC. (2005). Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Analytical Chemists International, 18th edition. Gathersburg, MD U.S.A. Official methods.
Bernardes, T. F., Gervásio, J. R. S., Morais, G., & Casagrande, D. R. (2019). Technical note: A comparison of methods to determine pH in silages. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(10), 8905-8911. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-16468
Chen, L., Bai, S., You, M., Xiao, B., Li, P., & Cai, Y. (2022). Effect of molasses level on fermentation quality and bacterial community of alfalfa silage. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 836623. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.836623
Ding, W. R., Long, R. J., & Guo, X. S. (2013). Effects of plant enzyme inactivation or sterilization on lipolysis and proteolysis in alfalfa silage. Journal of Dairy Science, 96(4), 2536-2543. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-6438
FAO. (2022). The State of Food and Agriculture 2022: Leveraging agricultural by-products to improve global food security. https://www.fao.org/publications/sofa/2022/en/
Gerber, P., Steinfeld, H., Henderson, B., Mottet, A., Opio, C., Dijkman, J., Falcucci, A. & Tempio, G. (2023) Tackling Climate Change through Livestock—A Global Assessment of Emissions and Mitigation Opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome.
Getachew, G., Robinson, P. H., DePeters, E. J., & Taylor, S. J. (2004). Relationships between chemical composition, dry matter degradation and in vitro gas production of several ruminant feeds. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 111(1-4), 57-71.
Guo, X. S., Ke, W. C., Ding, W. R., Ding, L. M., Xu, D. M., Wang, W. W., Zhang, P., & Yang, F. Y. (2018). Profiling of metabolome and bacterial community dynamics in ensiled Medicago sativa inoculated without or with Lactobacillus plantarum or Lactobacillus buchneri. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 357. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-18348-0
Guo, X., Wang, Y., Li, D., Xu, D., Zhao, R., Wei, M. & Yang, F. (2023). Effect of moisture content and additives on fermentation quality and microbial community of whole-plant corn silage under small-scale ensiling conditions. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1129615. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1129615
Kilic, A. (1986). Silo Feed (Instruction, Education and Application Proposals). Turkey: Bilgehan Publishing.
Kumar, R., Kamra, D. N., Agarwal, N., & Chaudhary, L. C. (2021). Conservation of green fodders and crop residues: A sustainable approach for increasing fodder availability in smallholder dairy farms. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53, 235. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02675-6
Kung, L., Shaver, R. D., Grant, R. J., & Schmidt, R. J. (2018). Silage review: Interpretation of chemical, microbial, and organoleptic components of silages. Journal of Dairy Science, 101(5), 4020-4033. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13909
Li, Y., Zhou, C., Li, J., Yao, X., Xie, W., & Wang, Y. (2022). Effects of molasses and lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation quality, bacterial community, and functional bacteria of soybean by-product silage. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 132(2), 1147-1159. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.15246
Makkar, H. P. S. (2018). Review: Feed demand landscape and implications of food-not feed strategy for food security and climate change. Animal, 1744–1754.doi: 10.1017/S175173111700324X
Martinez-Fernandez, A., Santos-Ruiz, A. B., & de la Roza-Delgado, B. (2022). Effects of adding sugar-rich additives on improving silage quality of legume crops: A review. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 286, 115253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2022.115253
Mc Donald, P., Henderson, A.R. & Heron, S.J.E. (1991). The Biochemistry of Silage. Chalcombe Publications, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, UK. pp. 109.
McDonald, P., Henderson, A. R., & Heron, S. J. E. (1991). The Biochemistry of Silage (2nd ed.). Chalcombe Publications.
McDonald, P., R. A. Edwards, J. F. D. Greenhalgh, C. A. Morgan, L. A. Sinclair, and R. G. Wilkinson. (2011). Animal nutrition. 7th ed. Prentice Hall/Pearson, Harlow, England
Minitab 16. (2010). Getting started with Minitab 16 for Windows. Minitab, LLC. All rights reserved.
Muck, R. E., Nadeau, E. M. G., McAllister, T. A., Contreras-Govea, F. E., Santos, M. C., & Kung Jr, L. (2018). Silage review: Recent advances and future uses of silage additives. Journal of Dairy Science, 101(5), 3980-4000. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13839
Mustafa, A. F. & Seguin, P. (2003). Characteristics and in situ degradability of whole crop faba bean, pea, and soybean silages. Can. J. Anim. Sci., 83, 793-99.
Park, M. R., Seo, M.-J., Yun, H.-T., & Park, C.-H. (2017). Analysis of feed value and usability of soybean varieties as livestock forage. Journal of the Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science, 37(2), 116–122. https://doi.org/10.5333/KGFS.2017.37.2.116
Nguyễn, L. H., Trần, T. X., Trần, T. B. P., & Yoshihashi, T. (2010). Sự đa dạng di truyền của các giống đậu nành rau Nhật Bản. Tạp chí Khoa học Đại học Cần Thơ, 16a, 51–59.
Nguyen, T. T. H., & Nguyen, T. N. T. (2022). The effects of the methods (drying and grinding in the liquidiser) on the crude protein solubility of Mimosa pigra and water spinach. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 34, Article #63. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd34/7/3463ntth.html
Nguyen, T. T. H., Van Khanh, N., & Nguyen, T. N. T. (2020). Soybean foliage (Glycine max (L.)) for growing goats in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 32, Article #101. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd32/7/ntthong32101.html
Nguyen, T. T. H., Nguyen, T. N. T., Danh. M., & Duong, H. D. (2020). The effect of molasses on the chemical composition of ensiled soybean forage (Glycine max L. Merr.). Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 32, Article #153. Retrieved May 24, 2025, from http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd32/9/hong32153.html
Nguyễn, T. T. H. (2023). Tài liệu giảng dạy môn Chăn nuôi trâu bò. Trường Đại học An Giang.
Ni, K., Wang, F., Zhu, B., Yang, J., Zhou, G., Pan, Y. & Tao, Y. (2017). Effects of lactic acid bacteria and molasses additives on the microbial community and fermentation quality of soybean silage. Bioresource Technology, 238, 739-746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.04.055
Palmonari, A., Fustini, M., Canestrari, G., Grilli, E., & Formigoni, A. (2020). Influence of maturity on alfalfa hay nutritional fractions and indigestible fiber content. Journal of Dairy Science, 103(2), 1457-1467. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17363
Rajabi, M., Yaghoubi, S. M. J., Abdollahpour, S. & Rahmani, H. R. (2017). Effects of adding molasses and inoculant on silage fermentation characteristics, in vitro digestibility and aerobic stability of sweet sorghum silage. Grass and Forage Science, 72(4), 716-726. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12267
Rajasekar, P., Wang, Y., Zhao, Z., Yang, L., & Zhang, Z. (2022). Evaluation of fermentation quality and nutritional value of vegetable soybean pods ensiled with various additives. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 295, 115509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2022.115509
Shanmugasundaram, S.; Nair, R.M.; Yan, M.-R.; Palada, M.C. Vegetable Soybean (Edamame). In Handbook of Vegetables; Peter, K.V., Singh, P., Eds.; Stadium Press, LLC: Houston, TX, USA, 2015; Volume 3, pp. 521–555
Silva, V. P., Pereira, O. G., Leandro, E. S., Da Silva, T. C., Ribeiro, K. G., Mantovani, H. C., & Santos, S. A. (2021). Effects of lactic acid bacteria with facultative heterofermentative metabolism on the fermentation profile and microbial populations of corn silage. Grassland Science, 67(1), 52-59. https://doi.org/10.1111/grs.12293
Singh, J., Sharma, P., Nain, L. & Chaudhary, P. P. (2020). Comparative evaluation of ensiling pea pod waste with microbial additives and molasses. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition, 37(2), 164-171.
Smit, H. J. (2019). The effect of planting density and cultivar on yield and quality of edamame (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 14(3), 1-8.
Thái, H. P., Trần, L. V., & Bùi, T. D. M. (2021). Khảo sát sự sinh trưởng và năng suất của bốn giống đậu nành rau. Tạp chí Khoa học, Trường Đại học Tiền Giang, 10, 83–89.
Tia, G., Liu, B. H., Yu, C., & Guo, J. (2012). Dynamics of microbial community during ensiling direct-cut alfalfa with and without LAB inoculant and sugar. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 113(6), 1404-1418. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.12023
Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B., & Lewis, B. A. (1991). Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(10), 3583-3597. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78551-2
Wang, J., Wang, J. Q., Zhou, H., & Feng, T. (2014). Effects of addition of previously fermented juice prepared from alfalfa on fermentation quality and protein degradation of alfalfa silage. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 192, 55-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2014.03.008
Wang, J., Chen, L., Yuan, X., Gui, G., Li, J., Bai Y. & Shao, T. (2017). Effects of molasses on the fermentation characteristics of mixed silage prepared with rice straw, local vegetable by-products and alfalfa in Southeast China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 16(3): 664–670
Wang, C., Zheng, M., Wu, S., Zou, X., Chen, X., Ge, L. & Zhang, Q. (2021). Effects of Gallic Acid on Fermentation Parameters, Protein Fraction, and Bacterial Community of Whole Plant Soybean Silage. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 662966. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.662966
Wang, J., Liu, N., Hou, X., Zhang, H., Zhou, M., & Yan, Z. (2024). Effects of molasses and bacterial inoculants on fermentation characteristics, microbial communities, and aerobic stability of vegetable soybean stalk silage. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1287532. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1287532
Zeipina, S., Alsina, I., & Lepse, L. (2017). Insight in edamame yield and quality parameters: A review. Research for Rural Development, 2, 40-45.
Zhang, Q., Li, X. J., Zhao, M. M., & Yu, Z. (2020). Isolating and evaluating lactic acid bacteria strains for effectiveness of Leymus chinensis silage fermentation. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 69(6), 391-398. https://doi.org/10.1111/lam.13238
Zhang, Q., Yu, Z., & Na, R. S. (2016). Effects of different additives on fermentation quality and aerobic stability of Leymus chinensis silage. Grass and Forage Science, 71(3), 460-471. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12215