Microorganisms in Silage

Dear Colleagues,

Microbial activity plays a crucial role in the ensiling process, which is widely used to preserve forage crops for animal feed. Silage production involves the fermentation of plant material by lactic acid bacteria and other microbial species under anaerobic conditions. This fermentation process results in a decrease in pH, thus inhibiting the growth of spoilage microorganisms and preserving the nutritional quality of silage. Additionally, microbial interactions within the silage ecosystem influence fermentation efficiency and their extent, hygienic quality, and animal performance upon feed consumption. Understanding the dynamics of microbial populations and communities in silage is essential to optimize silage production, improve hygienic quality, and mitigate the potential risks associated with microbial contamination.

This Special Issue aims to explore various aspects of microbial ecology, physiology, and biotechnology in the silage ecosystem. Original research articles, short communications, and reviews are welcome, and areas of interest may include but are not limited to the following:

• The diversity and dynamics of microbial populations and communities in silage.
• Functional roles of lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms in silage fermentation.
• The influence of environmental factors on microbial activity and silage quality.
• Biotechnological approaches to improve silage fermentation and feed preservation.
• The impact of microbial interactions on silage stability, their nutritious value, and animal health.
• Strategies for monitoring and controlling microbial contamination in silage production.

Dr. Musen Wang
Dr. Marcia De Oliveira Franco
Dr. Qing Zhang
Dr. Siran Wang
Dr. Chunsheng Bai
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• ensiling
• microbial community
• microbial contamination
• functional lactic acid bacteria
• fermented feed