Ensiling process
Each of the fresh crops was cut manually into 2e3 cm pieces,
mixed with Biomax Si (Chr. Hansen A/S, Denmark) forage
additive containing lactic acid bacteria (strain of Lactobacillus
plantarum, to ensure stable silage production). 1 g of powder of
forage additive was dissolved in 10 L of water and sprayed over
wet biomass samples in the amount equal to 40 mL of solution per 1 kg of biomass. Subsequently, the crops were packed
anaerobically in plastic bags; the air was pressed out manually
to maximal possible extent. Such packed materials were kept
at room temperature for 30 days [23]. After that all the samples
were stored in a freezer prior to analysis. All the experiments
were performed in duplicates.