Effect of Chemical and Microbial Additives on Fermentation Profile, Chemical Composition, and Microbial Populations of Whole-Plant Soybean Silage

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors presented the effect of chemical and microbial additives on fermentation profile, chemical composiiton an aerobic ability of whole-plant soybean silage, which is interesting and falls into the scope of the journal. However, the authors should deal with the following problems or comments before being considered for acceptance.

First, as the authors mentioned in the test, a mixture of organic acids or salt of organic acid was used rather than "organic acids". Namely, using "organic acids additives" is not right in the text because it also contains salt of organic acid in the formula and the authos must revise it carefully.

Second, using the abbreviations (FA and PA) for two chemical additives is not right, I suggest using "FA type" and "PA type"

Third, as to the title, I suggest using "Effect of chemical and microbial additives on fermentation profile, chemical composition, microbial populations and aerobic ability of whole-plant soybean silage".

The comments in detail are available below:

L19-20, "This study evaluated two chemical additives or a microbial inoculant on chemical composition, DM losses, and aerobic stability in whole-plant soybean silage"

L21-23, with the treatments: water without chloride (control, CON); a microbial inoculant (INO); a chemical additive containing 35-45% formic acid (FA type); and another chemical additive containing 50-60% propionic acid (PA typpe). Hence, please revise it one by one in the abstract and in the text

L26, pelase show the full words of NH₃-N for the first appearance

L37, soybean meal, as its coproduct

L45, water-soluble carbohydrates

L71-72, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

L86-89, how did the authos put chopped soybean into buckets ? please show it indetail

L94-95, Neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) with heat-stable alpha-amylase

L98, please list the full words of NDIN and ADIN

L119-120, please keep in accordance between "lactic acid" and "lactate", or between "acetic acid" and "acetate"

L131, please delete "days"

L156, for this section, how did the authos determine the temperature ? Room temperature ?

Table 2, Lactic acid bacterial, anaerobic bacteria

L288, please revise this table due to its big volume in the text

L190-191 and 343, please keep in accordance between "NH₃-N" and "ammonia-N"

L393, please delete the blank between "of" and "FA"

Author Response

Reviewer 1

The authors presented the effect of chemical and microbial additives on fermentation profile, chemical composiiton an aerobicability of whole-plant soybean silage, which is interesting and falls into the scope of the journal. However, the authors should deal with the following problems or comments before being considered for a cceptance.

First, as the authors mentioned in the test, a mixture of organic acids or salt of organic acid was used rather than "organic acids". Namely, using "organic acids additives" is not right in the text because it also contains salt of organic acid in the formula and the authos must revise it carefully.

AU: Thanks, we have altered to chemical additives following the instructions of the Reviewer for changes in the manuscript title.

Second, using the abbreviations (FA and PA) for two chemical additives is not right, I suggest using "FA type" and "PA type"

AU: Thanks for suggestion, we have changed abbreviations throughout the manuscript as suggested by the Reviewer.

Third, as to the title, I suggest using "Effect of chemical and microbial additives on fermentation profile, chemical composition, microbial populations and aerobic ability of whole-plant soybean silage".

AU: Thanks for suggestion, we have altered the title according to Reviewer’s comment.

The comments in detail are available below:

L19-20, "This study evaluated two chemical additives or a microbialinoculant on chemical composition, DM losses, and aerobic stability in whole-plant soybean silage"

AU: Thanks, we have updated the sentence as suggested by the Reviewer.

L21-23, with the treatments: water without chloride (control, CON); a microbial inoculant (INO); a chemical additive containing 35-45%formic acid (FA type); and another chemical additive containing 50-60% propionic acid (PA type). Hence, please revise it one by one in the abstract and in the text

AU: Thanks for comment. We have made the suggested change throughout the manuscript.

L26, pelase show the full words of NH-N for the first appearance

AU: Thanks, we spelled it out at the first appearance.

L37, soybean meal, as its coproduct

AU: Thanks, we have altered the sentence as suggested.

L45, water-soluble carbohydrates

AU: Thanks, we have altered the word.

L71-72, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

AU: Thanks, we have updated the species’ name throughout the manuscript.

L86-89, how did the authors put chopped soybean into buckets ?please show it in detail

AU: We added required information: fresh material was manually compressed in each silo.

L94-95, Neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) with heat-stable alpha-amylase

AU: Thanks, we have altered the sentence.

L98, please list the full words of NDIN and ADIN

AU: Thanks, we have spelled out the abbreviations highlighted.

L119-120, please keep in accordance between "lactic acid" and"lactate", or between "acetic acid" and "acetate"

AU: Thanks, we have fixed this issue throughout the manuscript.

L131, please delete "days"

AU: Thanks, we have deleted the word days.

L156, for this section, how did the authors determine the temperature ? Room temperature ?

AU: Silage temperature was evaluated using a spit thermometer (K29-5030^®, Kasvi Produtos Laboratoriais, Pinhais, Brazil). The air temperature was evaluated using an air thermometer (K29-7070^®, Kasvi Produtos Laboratoriais). However, considering the reviewer's criticism, we removed this data.

Table 2, Lactic acid bacterial, anaerobic bacteria

AU: Thanks, we have updated items in the table as suggested.

L288, please revise this table due to its big volume in the text

AU: We can split the table in 2 for further revisions if the Reviewers and the Editor judge necessary.

L190-191 and 343, please keep in accordance between "NH-N" and "ammonia-N"

AU: Thanks, we have double checked this issue throughout the manuscript.

L393, please delete the blank between "of" and "FA"

AU: Thanks, we have deleted the extra space.    

Reviewer 2 Report

It is interesting manuscript however some corrections are needed.

L148 – Include more details about bags – pore size and producer.

L156-163 – Describe how you evaluate nonstable silage. Room temperature is abstract concept. Insert exact temperature value for testing. Measuring each 12 hours is not enough, there should be measuring minimally one times per hour.

Table 4: How you explain differences in DM among treatments? Give it to discussion. Smaller loses are when is DM higher. It can be higher effect than additives.

Table 6: Results presented in this table should be detaily discussed.

L301-310 and Table 7: Is it about aerobic stability or about what? There are not explained presented values temperatures? Is it mean of all measuring? The highest differences? Explain and also give to the discussion.

L421-422: It is right description. Why you did not use it for your evaluation? I miss it in this manuscript.  

Author Response

Reviewer 2

It is interesting manuscript however some corrections are needed.

L148 – Include more details about bags – pore size and producer.

AU: Thanks, we have added the details requested by the Reviewer.

L156-163 – Describe how you evaluate nonstable silage. Room temperature is abstract concept. Insert exact temperature value for testing. Measuring each 12 hours is not enough, there should be measuring minimally one times per hour.

AU: The exact room temperature was 25.2±0.74 ºC. However, considering reviewer criticism, we prefer to remove this information from the present manuscript.

Table 4: How you explain differences in DM among treatments? Give it to discussion. Smaller losses are when is DM higher. It can be higher effect than additives.

AU: Thanks for comments. We explained the differences in silage DM content by the greater DM recovery observed in silages treated with chemical additives compared to other treatments. “Regarding chemical composition, silages with chemical additives exhibited greater concentration of DM, CP, and NFC, leading to increased NFC and TDN proportions. Silages with additives had lower concentrations of NDF, which is likely associated with lower solubilization or degradation of non-fiber components in comparison with CON. These results, especially differences in DM content, are supported by greater DM recovery of silages treated with chemical additives.”

Table 6: Results presented in this table should be detaily discussed.

AU: Thanks for comments. We have added more discussion for Table 6.

L301-310 and Table 7: Is it about aerobic stability or about what? There are not explained presented values temperatures? Is it mean of all measuring? The highest differences? Explain and also give to the discussion.

AU: Thanks for comments. We have removed aerobic stability data, agreeing with Reviewer’s comment – “Measuring each 12 hours is not enough, there should be measuring minimally one times per hour.”

L421-422: It is right description. Why you did not use it for your evaluation? I miss it in this manuscript.

AU: Considering the reviewer criticism, we preferred  to remove aerobic stability data.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

L37-38, worldwide [1] and soybean meal, as its coproduct

L90, Freshly chopped 

Author Response

We appreciate the time spent by the Reviewer on reviewing this manuscript. Changes required were made in the updated version.

Reviewer 2 Report

Article was corrected according to my suggestions.

Author Response

We appreciate the time spent and comments made by the Reviewer.