Effect of steam explosion on solid-state fermentation of maize stalk by Penicillium decumbens and Phanerochaete chrysosporium for animal feed production.

Pre-treated maize stalk could be used for animal feed due to the improved digestibility. Steam explosion (SE) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) are two methods in maize stalk pre-treatment. To evaluate the effect of combination of SE and SSF on the maize stalk pre-treatment, the maize stalk was treated with steam explosion and microbial fermentation with Penicillium decumbens and Phanerochate chrysporium in this study. The steam explosion severity (logR0 ) affected component of the corn stover and then affected the SSF. The highest weight loss of substrate (23.20%), protein (12.71%) and cellulase filter paper activity (FPA) (7.42IU/g) could be obtained at logR0  = 3.64 and the IVDMD of SE-SSF-treated straw could reach 75.8%. The SE-SSF pre-treatment method could improve the utilization of straw as animal feed and overcome the shortage of feed source in animal husbandry.