Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8): 60-71.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-1088

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Research Progress on the Diverse Functions and Application of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis in Silage

FU Chao, LI Yu-ying, HOU Zhen-ping(), SHI Peng-jun   

  1. Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205
  • Received:2025-10-16 Online:2026-08-26 Published:2026-08-17
  • Contact: HOU Zhen-ping E-mail:houzhenping@caas.cn

Abstract:

Silage is a key technology for preserving green feed in animal husbandry, and its quality directly determines the production performance of ruminants. As silage additives, Bacillus species can significantly improve silage fermentation quality by regulating the microbial community structure, thereby promoting the accumulation of organic acids and inhibiting the reproduction of spoilage bacteria. Bacillus subtilis (BS) and Bacillus licheniformis (BL) are currently the two most widely used Bacillus species in the silage field, but their application effects show significant differences. This article systematically reviews the application characteristics of BS and BL in silage production, conducts a comparative analysis of the aspects of biological characteristics, mechanisms of action, fermentation effects, raw material adaptability and practical applications, and integrates the comparative study data of the two species under the same experimental conditions. The results show that BS has prominent advantages in rapidly reducing the pH value of the silage system, degrading non-structural carbohydrates, and secreting high-activity protease; while BL performs better in improving silage aerobic stability, inhibiting mycotoxins, and degrading structural carbohydrates. The synergistic application of the two species can achieve functional complementarity, significantly improve silage quality and reduce production costs. This review can provide a solid theoretical basis for the scientific selection and efficient application of silage additives.

Key words: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, silage, functional characteristics, synergistic application