Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the biomass yield potential and nutritive value of six Leucaena varieties/lines, as well as to assess the efficacy of microbial inoculants on silage quality. The experiment consisted of two parts. (1) A field evaluation was conducted in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand, during 2024–2025 using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications and six treatments (KU56, KU15, K636, Cunningham, Peru, and Tarramba). Fresh yield and dry matter (DM) yield were determined. (2) Silage quality was investigated using a 3 × 6 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD). Factor A consisted of three microbial inoculant treatments: no inoculant (control), Silage Pro®, and Silage Extra Plus Max®, while Factor B comprised the six Leucaena varieties/lines. Chemical composition, including NDF, ADF, ADL, and ash, was analyzed, and fermentation quality was evaluated using a standardized scoring system.

The results indicated that total DM yield did not differ significantly among the six varieties/lines. However, Cunningham and Peru tended to produce higher biomass yields than the other genotypes. Prior to ensiling, Tarramba exhibited the lowest leaf NDF and ADF concentrations, indicating superior digestibility potential. After ensiling, K636 achieved the highest fermentation score (16.88), whereas the application of Silage Extra Plus Max® resulted in the highest overall fermentation score (15.60).

In conclusion, Cunningham and Peru show strong potential for biomass production as primary roughage sources. For high-quality silage production, the use of K636 or Tarramba in combination with Silage Extra Plus Max® is recommended to enhance fermentation efficiency.