Ensiling potential of fresh tomato waste with dehydrated beet pulp and cereal straw as additives

Alvarez, S., Martinez-Fernandez, A. and Mendez, P. 2020. Ensiling potential of fresh tomato waste with dehydrated beet pulp and cereal straw as additives. Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, 20: 381–392.

This study evaluated the ensilability, fermentation metabolites and nutritive value of fresh waste tomatoes with two different additives namely, dehydrated beet pulp and cereal straw. Initially, the comparative ensilability parameters were assessed in two different types of waste tomato fruits, i.e. interior market (Ti) and ecological (Te) tomatoes. Subsequently, as per the observed ensilability attributes, Ti was selected for further investigation. Accordingly, the waste tomatoes were ensiled as such (Ti) or in combination with 25% dehydrated beet pulp (Ti-DBP) and 25% cereal straw (Ti-CS) in laboratory microsilos. The quality and stability of the silages were assessed over time i.e., on d 35 and 70. In both the treatments, 3.5 L of formic acid was added per ton of silage to improve the fermentation. Both waste tomato types, ecological and interior tomatoes, showed high water-soluble carbohydrates content, but low DM, buffering capacity and fermentability ratio. Chemical analysis data showed significant differences (P<0.05) in the composition (except for OM content) between the silage materials before ensiling, with or without as additives. Both the silages presented good fermentative attributes with significant differences only in the concentrations of ammonia (P=0.004) and formic acid (P<0.001). In contrast, the chemical composition data showed significant differences (P<0.001) in all parameters analyzed except DM and OM contents. Moreover, no differences were detected between ensiling periods (35 and 70 d). In general, waste tomatoes ensiled with dehydrated beet pulp showed better fermentative and nutritional quality than silage with cereal straw.