Biochar and gypsum amendment of agro-industrial waste for enhanced black soldier fly larval biomass and quality frass fertilizer

Beesigamukama, Dennis; Mochoge, Benson; Korir, Nicholas Kibet; Fiaboe, Komi K. M.; Nakimbugwe, Dorothy; Khamis, Fathiya M.; Dubois, Thomas; Subramanian, Sevgan; Wangu, Musyoka M.; Ekesi, Sunday; Tanga, Chrysantus M.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0238154

Cited by 38 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…The higher growth rate and yield associated with vegetables grown using BSFFF could also be attributed to its high maturity and stability as indicated by parameters such as the lower C/N ratio (11) and high germination index (86%) ( Table 2 ). Findings from this study are in line with Beesigamukama et al ( 2020a , 2021 ) who reported the absence of phytotoxicity in composted BSF frass as organic fertilizer. Therefore, the increased vegetable growth, N uptake in vegetables grown using BSFFF compared to the conventional compost, and commercial organic and mineral fertilizers could be attributed to better supply and availability of nutrients from the newly introduced frass fertilizer (Beesigamukama et al, 2020b ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Quality of Three Key Vegetable Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2021

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Worldwide, French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and kales (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) are considered economically important food crops. There is a rapid decline in their yield due to severe soil degradation. Thus, high commercial fertilizer inputs are crucial, though they remain expensive and inaccessible to resource poor farmers. We investigated the comparative performance of composted black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF), conventionally composted brewer's spent grain (BSG), commercial organic fertilizer (Evergrow), and mineral [nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK)] fertilizer on growth, yield, N use efficiency, and nutritional quality (crude protein, crude fiber, crude fats, ash, and carbohydrate concentrations) of tomatoes, kales, and French beans under greenhouse and open-field conditions for two seasons. The fertilizers were applied at rates equivalent to 371 kg of N ha−1. For each crop, the plots were treated with sole rates of BSFFF, BSG, Evergrow, and NPK to supply 100% of the N required. Additional treatments included a combination of BSFFF and NPK, and BSG and NPK so that each fertilizer supplies 50% of the N required. The control treatment consisted of unfertilized soil. Results show that vegetable yields achieved using a combination of BSFFF and NPK were 4.5, 2.4, and 5.4-folds higher than the yield from the control treatment for tomatoes, kales, and French beans, respectively. The combined application of BSFFF and NPK produced 22–135%, 20–27%, and 38–50% higher yields than sole NPK for tomatoes, kales, and French beans, respectively, under both greenhouse and open-field conditions. The highest agronomic N use efficiency was achieved in sole BSFFF-treated plots compared to sole BSG and Evergrow. The N taken up by the vegetables was significantly higher when BSFFF and NPK were integrated. Vegetables grown using a combination of BSFFF and NPK had the highest crude protein and ash concentrations. Our findings demonstrate that the integration of BSFFF and NPK in vegetable cropping systems at the recommended rate of 1.24 t ha−1 BSFFF and 322 kg ha−1 NPK would improve soil health, boost yield, and nutritional quality of vegetable crops.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Quality of Three Key Vegetable Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2021

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“…Additionally, elevating the carbon ratio to nitrogen ratio to 15, via sawdust additions, enhanced N and P retention as well as reduced the time necessary for composting [ 52 ]. In another study, Beesigamukama et al [ 53 ] found that adding 10% biochar increased the K content and improved seed germination. Other essential nutrients, such as magnesium, iron, nickel, boron, manganese and zinc should also be measured in BSFL frass due to their importance for plant growth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conversion of Spent Coffee and Donuts by Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae into Potential Resources for Animal and Plant Farming

Fischer

Romano

Sinha

2021

Insects

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Nutritionally unbalanced organic waste can be converted into potential resources for animal and plant farming by culturing black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) and prepupae (BSFP). BSFL and BSFP are rich sources of protein and lipids, while the leftover excrement called “frass” can be used as an organic fertilizer. Using readily available resources, BSFL were cultured on spent coffee, donut dough or an equal blend for 35 days. Survival, productivity, daily pupation and biochemical composition of BSFL and BSFP were measured along with the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium values of the frass. Survival was highest in the blend compared (81%) to spent coffee (45%) or dough (24%); however, BSFL and BSFP were significantly longer and heavier from dough. Stage and food significantly influenced the protein, lipid and glycogen content of the BSFL and BSFP, which tended to be higher in the latter. While fatty acids were often significantly higher in BSFL fed spent coffee, the amino acid composition of BSFL was generally higher in dough. Frass from the blend had significantly highest nitrogen content, while potassium and phosphorus were significantly higher and lower from spent coffee, respectively. Although coffee and donut dough were suboptimal substrates for BSFL, a blend of these produced BSFL and frass that were nutritionally comparable to soybean meal and many organic fertilizers, respectively.

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“…A C:N-ratio > 20 bears the risk of soil N immobilization, which may favor plants with a more efficient N exploitation attributed to their rhizobiome [46,52]. The addition of biochar to the larval waste conversion process might further improve the frass' N retention, while at the same time increasing larval biomass yield [10]. Moreover, larvae pass through six instars continuously shedding their exoskeleton.…”

Section: Black Soldier Fly Frass Properties Soil Quality and Plant Pmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…BSFL could also play a valuable role for smaller decentralized waste management systems operated by e.g., hobbyists or farmers in areas where the fly occurs naturally [7][8][9]. Additionally, the exploitation of BSF and its by-products could create an affordable opportunity for revenue generation by entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers in low-income countries [9][10][11]. The main by-product in the bioconversion of wastes into high quality protein for animal feedstuff is summarized as 'frass'.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is an inevitable side-stream during the mass-rearing of insects that can add up to 75% of the fed substrate [12] and is often merchandised as a fertilizing product. In recent years, an increasing number of studies started focusing on meaningful applications of insect frass [9,[13][14][15], and the first large-scale field studies provided promising perspectives for its application in agriculture, especially in terms of plant nutrient availability [10,11,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Suitability of Black Soldier Fly Frass as Soil Amendment and Implication for Organic Waste Hygienization

et al. 2020

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Because of its nutritious properties, the black soldier fly has emerged as one of the most popular species in advancing circular economy through the re-valorization of anthropogenic organic wastes to insect biomass. Black soldier fly frass accumulates as a major by-product in artificial rearing set-ups and harbors great potential to complement or replace commercial fertilizers. We applied frass from larvae raised on different diets in nitrogen-equivalent amounts as soil amendment, comparing it to NH4NO3 fertilizer as a control. While the soil properties did not reveal any difference between mineral fertilizer and frass, principal component analysis showed significant differences that are mainly attributed to nitrate and dissolved nitrogen contents. We did not find significant differences in the growth of perennial ryegrass between the treatments, indicating that frass serves as a rapidly acting fertilizer comparable to NH4NO3. While the abundance of coliform bacteria increased during frass maturation, after application to the soil, they were outcompeted by gram-negatives. We thus conclude that frass may serve as a valuable fertilizer and does not impair the hygienic properties of soils.

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Biochar and gypsum amendment of agro-industrial waste for enhanced black soldier fly larval biomass and quality frass fertilizer

Cited by 38 publications

References 52 publications

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Quality of Three Key Vegetable Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Black Soldier Fly-Composted Organic Fertilizer Enhances Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Quality of Three Key Vegetable Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Conversion of Spent Coffee and Donuts by Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae into Potential Resources for Animal and Plant Farming

Suitability of Black Soldier Fly Frass as Soil Amendment and Implication for Organic Waste Hygienization

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