Adding Sophora japonica flower powder affects the fermentation quality of Trifolium repens silage

This experiment investigated the effects of adding Sophora japonica flower powder on the fermentation quality of Trifolium repens silage. A single factor random experiment design was used. There were five treatments in total with different mixing levels, including Trifolium repens alone (C), 95% Trifolium repens and 5% S. japonica flower powder (T₁), 90% Trifolium repens and 10% S. japonica flower powder (T₂), 85% Trifolium repens and 15% S. japonica flower powder (T₃), and 80% Trifolium repens and 20% S. japonica flower powder (T₄). The results showed that Trifolium repens silage alone had the lowest silage quality, while mixed with S. japonica flower powder increased the dry matter content, water soluble carbohydrates content, and fermentation coefficient, and decreased the buffering capacity of the original materials. After ensiling, the sensory evaluation, lactic acid content, lactic acid ꞉ acetic acid ratio, dry matter content, water soluble carbohydrates content, and crude protein content significantly increased, and the pH value, NH₃-N ꞉ TN (total nitrogen) ratio, acetic acid content, and butyric acid content of the silage significantly decreased. Therefore, it was concluded that silage with 80% Trifolium repens and 20% S. japonica flower powder can achieve positive silage quality.