Preservation of coffee pulp by ensilage: Influence of biological additives

Data on the influence of three biological additives on the ensilage of coffee pulp for its preservation show that the endogenous microflora of the coffee pulp is efficient enough to produce good quality silage, with acceptable levels of organic acid, dry matter loss and final pH. The use of inoculants, as biological additives, showed the efficiency of natural microflora grown on coffee pulp and the monoculture of Lactobacillus plantarum A6 in improving the physico-chemical characteristics of the silage, though commercial inoculum was not efficient, due to several reasons. Degradation of caffeine was absent i n all the cases. Cellulases as a biological additive showed increased sugar production during ensilage. The results on the kinetics of different microflora development and physico-chemical characteristics during ensilage provide the insight into the microbiology and physiology of the process and point out a number of possibilities for improving the ensilage process as well as the quality of the silage.