# Fermentation Characteristics and Microbiota during the
## 3 Results
### Microbial Diversity in M. aquaticum Silage  
The alpha diversity of bacteria in _M. aquaticum_ silage is shown in Table 1. Based on the Good's coverage values, the sequencing adequately captured most of the bacterial communities. The diversity and richness of bacteria (Table S1) decreased in the LB- and FH-treated silages, compared to those in the control silages. This may be explained by the lower pH, and anaerobic and acidic environment could lead to the decrease in aerobic epiphytic bacteria [16]. Similarly, [PERSON] et al. [19] found that silages inoculated with LB had decreased bacterial diversity due to the predominant genus (_Lactobacillus_). [PERSON] et al. [20] also reported that, when the relative abundance of dominant bacteria increased, the microbial community was less diverse. The relative abundances of bacteria at the phylum and genus levels in _M. aquaticum_ silage after 60 days of ensiling are shown in Figure 3. At the phylum level, after 60 d of fermentation, the main phylum in the control silage were Proteobacteria (56.9%), Bacteroidetes (27.6%), Firmicutes (13.1%), and Cyanobacteria (1.3%). In contrast, in treatments inoculated with lactic acid bacteria, Firmicutes (83.4% in LP, 68.2% in LB, and 59.2% in FH) domi  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Samples**} & **Sequence** & \multirow{2}{*}{**OTUs**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**[PERSON]**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Chao1**} & \multirow{2}{*}{**Simpson**} & **Good’s** \\  & **Number** & & & & & **Cover  
nated the epiphytic flora of the silage. Firmicutes are acid hydrolytic microorganisms and Proteobacteria can digest organic matter; they both play important roles during ensiling. These results were analogous to the previous observations of other common silages, such as maize and alfalfa [19; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25]. At the genus level, Lactobacillus was the most dominant in LP (80.9%), LB (61.4%), and FH (55.3%). It is well known that Lactobacillus has an important role in reducing pH and enhancing lactic acid content; it becomes a predominant genus in silages. Similarly, when mixed high-moisture amaranth and rice straw was ensiled with Lactobacillus plantarum and/or cellulase, Lactobacillus was the dominant genera in all treatments [26]. The alpha diversity of fungi in _M. aquaticum_ silage is shown in Table 2. Based on the Good's coverage values, the sequencing had adequately captured most of the fungal communities. The diversity and richness of fungi (Table S2) in the silage were increased in the treatment with the addition of lactic acid bacteria inoculants, compared to the control group. This was in agreement with the results of [PERSON] et al. [27] that the fungal richness and diversity of silage inoculated with LAB was significantly higher than that of uninoculated silage. However, a different result was obtained by [PERSON] et al. [28], who showed an increase in fungal richness in elephant grass silage under natural conditions, and no difference in fungal richness and diversity between silage with and for added inoculants. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Samples** & **Sequence Number** & **OTUs** & **Shannon** & **Chao1** & **Simpson** & **Good’s Coverage** \\ \hline CK & 63,721 & 69 & 3.488 & 169.16 & 0.681 & 0.999 \\ LP & 56,737 & 78 & 4.809 & 321.02 & 0.848 & 0.999 \\ LB & 72,852 & 67 & 5.594 & 198.84 & 0.937 & 0.999 \\ FH & 71,732 & 76 & 3.837 & 222.81 & 0.883 & 0.999 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Alpha diversity of fungi in _M. aquaticum_ silage after 60 days of ensiling. Figure 3: The epiphytic bacterial community in _M. aquaticum_ silage after 60 d of ensiling. The bacterial communities are shown at the phylum level (**A**) and the genus level (**B**). CK, control; LB, _Lactobacillus buchneri_; LP, _Lactobacillus plantarum_; and FH, combination of LB and LP. The relative abundances of fungi at the phylum and genus levels in _M.