Chemical composition, and in vitro fermentation of ripe mango silage with molasses

The objective was to evaluate the in vitro fermentation in silage of ripe mango with pangola grass hay and levels of sugar cane molasses as additive. The treatments were: 0 (T0%), 3 (T3%), 6 (T6%) and 9% (T9%) molasses. The ensilage was fermented for 21 days. Dry matter (DM), pH values, lactic acid, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ashes (As), partial and the accumulated biogas and methane production, DM degradation (DMD) and NDF degradation (NDFD) were determined in the ensilages. Variables were analyzed in a completely random design. T0% showed lower DM and As content, as well as a higher lactic acid concentration. T3% and T6% had different CP content. The higher NDF and ADF content was found in T0% and T3%. With regard to partial biogas production, T0% had the higher partial biogas production at 6 h, while T3% and T6% had the higher production at 9 and 48 h; meanwhile, T0% and T3% had the higher production at 24 h, and T9% at 72 h. The higher partial methane production happened in T0% at 48 h and in T3% and T9% at 72 h. T0% and T3% had a higher DMD and NDFD. The lower accumulated biogas production took place in T3% and T6% (p < 0.05). Therefore, ripe mango ensilages (using pangola grass) do not require an additive (such as molasses) to improve the bromatological and fermented quality of the ensilage.