Bunker-stored silage covered with biodegradable coating. Part I. Laboratory assay

The effect of a hydrophobic biodegradable coating on the conservation of silage was evaluated in comparison with unsealed silage and silage covered with a polyethylene (plastic). Silage samples were subjected to biochemical analysis (pH, dry matter, water-soluble sugars, ammoniacal nitrogen, lactic acid) and microbiological analysis (total aerobes, lactic acid bacteria, moulds and yeasts) during 135 days of storage. Silage covered with the biodegradable coating had a constant pH value of 4.79 and was preserved against spoilage until day 120, whereas the pH of unsealed silage increased during the first 6 days to a value of 8.22. After 2 months of storage, silage covered with the biodegradable coating had a lower dry matter content, higher water-soluble sugar content and higher lactic acid concentration than unsealed silage. During storage the population of total aerobes was lower in silage covered with the biodegradable coating than in silage covered with plastic. Furthermore, silage covered with the biodegradable coating had a stable content of aerobic micro-organisms. The biodegradable-coated silage showed a growth of lactic acid bacteria similar to that of silage covered with plastic. Only silage covered with the biodegradable coating had a low initial content of moulds and yeasts. Air infiltration was present throughout the storage period in the plastic and biodegradable coating treatments and was linked with the degradation of silage in both cases. However, the biodegradable coating significantly (P =< 0.05) increased the period of silage conservation compared with that of uncoated silage.