Ensiling Characteristics, Bacterial Community Structure, Co-Occurrence Networks, and Their Predicted Functionality in Alfalfa Haylage Silage with or Without Foliar Selenium Application
Kexin Wang,
Fengdan Wang,
Shengnan Sun,
Yilin Zou,
Zifeng Gao,
Yi Hua,
Ligang Qin,
Guofu Hu
Affiliations
Kexin Wang
Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Fengdan Wang
Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Shengnan Sun
Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Yilin Zou
Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Zifeng Gao
Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Yi Hua
Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Ligang Qin
Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Guofu Hu
Department of Grassland Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in living systems. In this study, we applied a spray of 50 mg/kg sodium selenite to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) at different stages of development (bud, initial bloom, and full bloom stages). After 0, 1, 3, 7, and 45 days of ensiling, we assessed the fermentation quality, chemical composition, and bacterial community of the alfalfa. Our findings indicated that the addition of Se led to an increase in the Se content and a decrease in the pH, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents. As ensiling fermentation progressed, the Se treatments increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, which was significantly greater than that in the control group (42.44% vs. 3.76%). In conclusion, the addition of sodium selenate to silage additive ensures the quality of the silage and reduces bacterial community diversity. This study provides valuable insights for the investigation of Se enrichment in alfalfa haylage silage.
