Summary: | The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of three forms of titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) and their effect on the yield, chemical and microbiological quality of perennial ryegrass herbage and silage. Two types of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO<sub>2</sub>NPs) and a commercial product, labeled here as TiO<sub>2</sub>Com, were selected for the studies. The yield and chemical parameters of herbage did not improve significantly in response to the TiO<sub>2</sub> treatment, in comparison to the control group (CONT). The crude protein content of silage was significantly lower in the TiO<sub>2</sub>Com-treated group than in the TiO<sub>2</sub>NPs2 group (117 vs. 129 g kg<sup>−1</sup> dry matter (DM)). The use of water-soluble carbohydrates during fermentation was limited in the TiO<sub>2</sub>NPs2 and TiO<sub>2</sub>Com groups. The fermentation pattern was similar for each investigated group, and a significant difference in pH values was noted between the TiO<sub>2</sub>NPs2 (pH = 4.49) and CONT (pH = 4.68) group. Lactic acid concentration was the highest in the TiO<sub>2</sub>NPs1 group (94.8 g kg<sup>−1</sup> DM), and the difference relative to the CONT group (83.2 g kg<sup>−1</sup> DM) was statistically significant. It was concluded that TiO<sub>2</sub> and its nanoparticles have the potential to improve the physicochemical and microbiological quality of herbage and silage.
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