Promoting Corn Stover Degradation via Sequential Processing of Steam Explosion and Lactic Acid Bacteria‐Assisted Ensilage

ABSTRACT Efficient utilization of corn stover is essential for enhancing the sustainability of livestock feed. However, its high lignocellulose content limits digestibility and nutritional value. Steam explosion technology, an emerging pretreatment method, has shown promise in food processing for its ability to break down the natural structural barriers of materials. We explored the combined effects of steam explosion pretreatment and lactic acid bacteria (LAB)‐assisted ensilage on the degradation and nutritional improvement of corn stover. Corn stover was divided into three groups: untreated (CON group), steam explosion pretreated (SE group), and steam explosion with L. buchneri inoculation (SEC group). The results showed that both steam explosion treatments (with or without L. buchneri inoculation) significantly degraded fiber, suppressed most microbes, and increased specific metabolites in corn stover. Compared with the CON group, both the SE and SEC groups showed significantly lower ( p < 0.05) cellulose and hemicellulose contents, while water‐soluble carbohydrates were significantly higher ( p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy revealed structural damage to the corn stover fibers, particularly after steam explosion. Additionally, alpha‐diversity analysis indicated a significantly lower ( p < 0.05) Chao1 index in both the SE and SEC groups. Metabolomic analysis identified significant changes ( p < 0.05) in organic acids and carbohydrates, including succinic acid, L‐tyrosine, and D‐fructose, which were associated with improved nutritional profiles. Our results suggest that combining steam explosion with LAB‐assisted ensilage is an effective method for enhancing the nutritional value and digestibility of corn stover, offering a promising strategy for its sustainable use in animal feed.