Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate whether Kangar (Gundelia tournefortii L.) forage can be successfully preserved as silage despite its low water-soluble carbohydrate content and high buffering capacity, and to assess the individual and combined effects of molasses (Mol, 5% dry matter: DM), Lactobacillus plantarum inoculant (LAB, 1 × 10⁶ CFU/g fresh forage), and urea (1% DM) on fermentation quality, microbial populations, aerobic stability, and in vitro digestibility. In a completely randomized design with six replicates per treatment, silages were evaluated after 60 days of ensiling. The Mol+LAB treatment resulted in the lowest pH (3.98), highest lactic acid content (8.08% DM), highest Flieg score (113), highest aerobic stability (96.1 h), and lowest DM loss (58.8 g/kg DM) among all treatments (p Clostridium, while increasing LAB counts. In terms of nutritive value, Mol+LAB and Mol+Urea showed the highest in vitro digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein, and NDF, as well as the highest total volatile fatty acids and metabolizable energy (p < 0.001). Mol alone or combined with LAB effectively improved fermentation quality and digestibility, whereas urea alone increased crude protein but negatively affected fermentation (higher pH, ammonia-N, and butyric acid). Overall, the combination of Mol and LAB (Mol+LAB) was the most effective additive for producing high-quality Kangar silage with excellent fermentation characteristics, aerobic stability, and rumen fermentability, offering a viable strategy to enhance alternative forage utilization in arid and semi-arid regions.