Effect of Use of Potato Chips Waste as a Source of Easily Soluble Carbohydrates in Alfalfa Silage on Silage Quality.

This study was carried out to examine the effect of adding potato chips waste, which is a by-product of the potato processing industry, on silage quality, as an easily soluble carbohydrate source, to the alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plant, which has a high buffering capacity and is therefore difficult to ensilage. In the study, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) harvested at the 10% flowering point was used as the plant material. Four different groups were formed by adding the silage groups prepared in the study, alfalfa plant control (without additives), and potato chips waste at the rates of 0.5%, 1% and 2% on a wet weight basis to the alfalfa plants. The silages were opened at the end of the 60-day fermentation period and raw nutrient compositions and fermentation products were identified. When the effects of the silages prepared by adding different levels of chip waste to alfalfa plant on the nutrient value were examined, the differences between the groups in terms of dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of the silages obtained from the study were statistically significant. While it was not significant in terms of CP content, the differences between the silage groups were found to be statistically significant. In the study, when the pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), carbon dioxide (CO2) production and total yeast mold values of the fermentation properties of the silages were examined, decreases were observed due to the addition of chips compared to the control group. When the total lactic acid bacteria (LAB) values of the silages were examined, an increase was observed after the addition of 1% chips. As a result, when all the parameters were examined, it was determined that the silages prepared by adding 1% chips waste had positive effects on silage fermentation.