The innoculation of forages with lignocellulolytic fungi is an option for improving quality without adding chemical products. Substrate quality influences fungal activity and endproduct quality. The effects of four treatments (composting of whole hay, composting of chopped hay, soaking in cool water and soaking in hot water) on a Brachiaria decumbens hay were evaluated. The treatments were followed by innoculation with Pleurotus ostreatus fungus and incubation over 35 days, under controlled temperature. A completely randomized design with four replicates and repeated measures was used. Weekly samples were taken to follow substrate degradation through chemical analysis of the hay. A linear increase over time was observed for crude protein (CP) and proportion of lignin in cell walls (LIG-NDF), whereas a linear decrease was observed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), cellulose and hemicellulose contents. No treatment effect on ADF content was observed. The treatments based on composting showed higher CP, lignin and LIG-NDF contents and lower NDF and hemicellulose contents. No difference was observed between the treatments that used soaking. The biological treatment of Brachiaria hay caused degradation of the fibrous fraction and increased CP content, with stronger effect on those treatments that used composting. The fungus was more effective to increase hemicellulose content than the other fiber components.
biological treatment; Brachiaria decumbens; chemical composition; fiber; "organic" product
