Recycling waste via insect agriculture: Frass impacts on soil and plant health.

ABSTRACT: Frass-the main by-product of insect rearing for animal feed-is emerging as a promising soil amendment and plant growth promoter. However, basic agronomic information is lacking and prevents frass' widespread use as a biofertilizer. This study assessed impacts of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L. [Diptera: Stratiomyidae]) frass on soil fertility, crop growth, and quality compared to poultry litter (PL). Irrigated and non-irrigated soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) and non-irrigated switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) plots received either PL (5.6 Mg ha^-1), low frass rate (LF; 5.6 Mg ha^-1), high frass rate (HF; 11.2 Mg ha^-1), besides the unamended control (CT). In general, soil nutrients and enzymes at the soil surface (0-15 cm) were unaffected by soil amend

SUBMITTER: Amorim HCS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12593254 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature