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Assessment of the N- and P-Fertilization Effect of Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) By-Products on Maize

To meet the growing demand for an alternative animal protein source, the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) industry is expanding. Thus, the valuation of its byproducts, foremost BSF frass, is getting more economic and ecological weight. Three different residues, BSF frass, larval skins, and dead adult flies, were compared with a mineral and an organic commercial fertilizer in a pot trial with maize (Zea mays L., [Poales: Poaceae]). byproducts were applied in three nutrient-based application rates (180; 215 kg N/ha; 75 kg P2O5/ha), and plant nutrients, physiological and yield parameters were measured at harvest date. Ground flies had the highest N-fertilizing effect of all byproducts, similar to commercial mineral and organic fertilizers used as controls, whereas its proportion of the BSF production systems’ output is low. Frass as the abundant byproduct showed comparably low N-fertilization effects. Its low N availability was attributed to volatilization losses, mainly driven by high pH and ammonium contents. BSF frass as the main byproduct output is more suited as a basic fertilizer or potting substrate amendment than as a short-term organic fertilizer. Postprocessing of frass seems reasonable. For a profound assessment of frass as fertilizer, several aspects (e.g., the overall impact of postprocessing, plant strengthening and plant protection potential, effects on microbial processes) must be clarified.

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Gefördert durch den Publikationsfonds der UniversitÀt Kassel
Citation
In: Journal of Insect Science Volume 20 / Issue 5 (2020-09-22) , S. ; EISSN 1536-2442
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Except where otherwised noted, this item's license is described as Namensnennung 4.0 International
@article{doi:10.17170/kobra-202009301862,
  author    ={GĂ€rttling, Daniel and Kirchner, Sascha Michael and Schulz, Hannes},
  title    ={Assessment of the N- and P-Fertilization Effect of Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) By-Products on Maize},
  keywords ={580 and 590 and Nebenprodukt and Schwarze Soldatenfliege and Pflanzen and NĂ€hrstoff and Mais},
  copyright  ={http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
  language ={en},
  journal  ={Journal of Insect Science},
  year   ={2020-09-22}
}