Farmed Insect Frass as a Future Organic Fertilizer
Source abstract
Abstract
The aim of this incubation experiment was to evaluate the effect of Tenebrio molitor L. frass on selected chemical and microbiological properties of acid peat. The optimal rate of mealworm frass in the substrate for growing ornamental trees and shrubs was determined. Acid peat was fertilized with frass or urea at five nitrogen (N) rates: 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg dm−3. Mineral N content and electrical conductivity increased, and calcium content decreased in peat with increasing N rates. Similarly to urea, frass increased the ammonification rate at the beginning of incubation and the nitrification rate from the second week of incubation. Higher frass rates increased the abundance of plant-available nutrients (N, P, Mg, K, and Na) in acid peat. Frass undesirably decreased the counts of bacteria with antagonistic activity against soil-borne plant pathogens. Regarding the abundance of functional genes, the optimal N rate was 100 mg dm−3, which promoted the growth of N-fixing and chitinolytic bacteria. Higher N rates promoted the development of aerobic spore-forming bacteria, which produce antibiotics that can be used as biocontrol agents. Moderate fertilizer rates contributed to N accumulation in bacterial biomass. These preliminary findings, which indicate that insect frass can partially replace mineral fertilizers, are promising and can be used in pot and field experiments testing various plant species.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Insect Utilization and Effects · Composting and Vermicomposting Techniques
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 8, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Department of Entomology, Phytopathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego 17, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bioresource Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 3, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
Department of Biogeochemistry and Soil Science, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Seminaryjna 5, 85-326 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Funding
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry · Department of Entomology, Phytopathology, and Molecular Diagnostics · European Union
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