Sustainable Use of Legume Residues: Effect on Nutritive Value and Ensiling Characteristics of Maize Straw Silage

The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritive value, in vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD), and ensiling characteristics of legume foliage-maize straw silages. For silage, the proportion of legume to maize was 20%:80% (maize-lablab (ML), maize-indigenous cowpea (MI), maize-Betswit (MB), and maize-Dr Saunders (MD)). Maize alone (M) was used as a control, making up five treatments. Silages were opened after 45 days, and samples were taken for chemical composition, IVDMD, and fermentation characteristics analysis. Other samples were put through a seven-day aerobic stability test. All data were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance, in a completely randomized design (CRD). For the nutritive value of the silage, the ML had the highest (p < 0.05) crude protein (CP) content, when compared with other silages. Maize-Betswit had the lowest (p < 0.05) neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) content, when compared with other silages. The lowest (p < 0.05) ether-extract (EE) and hemicellulose content was recorded for MI silage. The lowest (p < 0.05) pH was recorded for maize silage. All silages had similar (p > 0.05) amounts of lactic acid (LA), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), yeast, and mould counts. The MI had the lowest (p < 0.05) carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, when compared with other silages. The highest (p < 0.05) IVDMD was recorded for ML silage, from 24 h up to 72 h. The addition of legumes in maize straw resulted in improved silage quality and fermentation characteristics.