Effects of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> , combined with konjac flour or lignocellulose, on silage quality and bacterial diversity of high-moisture forage rape silage

The combination of <i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> (LP) and konjac flour (KF) were found to improve the silage quality of high-moisture forage rape previously. To identify a cost-effective alternative to KF, we further investigated the effects of the combination of LP and lignocellulose (LC) on the aerobic stability, fermentation quality, chemical composition, and bacterial community of high-moisture forage rape silage. After 60 days of ensiling, the combination of LP and LC improved the aerobic stability, dropped the pH value, increased the lactic acid content, and decreased the butyric acid content in ensiled forage rape (<i>P</i> < 0.05), which were similar to the effects of the LP and KF combination. Both combinations decreased the content of crude protein (<i>P</i> < 0.05) while increasing the content of neutral detergent fiber in forage rape silage (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Moreover, LP combined with KF or LC exerted a notable influence on the bacterial community, as evidenced by reduced Shannon and Simpson indices and absolute dominance of <i>Lactobacillus</i> (<i>P</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, the combination of LP and LC could be used as a cost-effective alternative to the LP and KF combination and enhance the silage quality of high-moisture forage rape through modulating its bacterial community.IMPORTANCEApplying additives to high-moisture forage rape silage is critical for guaranteeing its fermentation quality. Both KF and LC exhibit high water-holding and water-binding capacities, with LC being more cost-effective. Our previous study demonstrated enhanced silage quality of high-moisture forage rape by LP+KF. In the present study, we report for the first time the effect of LP+LC on improving the silage quality of high-moisture forage rape, which was similar to that of LP+KF. The results indicate that the combination of LP and LC effectively enhances the abundance of <i>Lactobacillus</i> while reducing the abundance of undesirable bacteria, such as enterobacteria and clostridia, thereby effectively improving the silage quality of forage rape. This study provides a valuable reference for the development of novel silage additives for high-moisture forage rape and further contributes to alleviating the shortage of high-quality forage in China.