Summary
This study investigates the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biofertilisers applied at planting as a means of improving the nutritive and fermentative properties of whole-crop corn silage, with a secondary focus on ruminant enteric methane mitigation potential. The authors, affiliated with Indonesian institutions, likely conducted a controlled field experiment comparing AMF-treated and untreated maize crops before ensiling and subsequent in vitro rumen fermentation assays. The paper contributes to a growing body of evidence on biological soil amendments as tools for enhancing both feed quality and the environmental footprint of ruminant livestock systems.
UK applicability
The study is likely conducted in an Indonesian tropical context, meaning direct agronomic transferability to UK maize silage systems is limited; however, the findings on AMF biofertiliser effects on silage quality and methane emissions are conceptually relevant to UK efforts to reduce enteric methane from dairy and beef cattle fed maize silage.
Key measures
Nutrient composition (crude protein, fibre fractions, dry matter %); fermentation quality indicators (pH, volatile fatty acids, lactic acid); in vitro dry matter degradability (%); in vitro methane emissions (mL/g DM)
Outcomes reported
The study measured nutrient composition, fermentation quality, in vitro degradability, and methane emissions of whole-crop corn silages treated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) biofertilisers applied at planting. It assessed whether AMF inoculation altered the nutritive value and enteric methane potential of the resulting silage.
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