Investigating Black Soldier Fly Larval (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Frass Applications as a Partial Peat Replacement and Liquid Fertilizer in Brassicaceae Crop Production
Insect frass is the left-over side stream from mass rearing insects as food and feed. Research indicates that black soldier fly, <i>Hermetia illucens</i>, larvae (BSFL) frass can improve the yield of leafy greens while also increasing nutrient uptake. Two studies evaluated the impact of...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Agrochemicals |
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| author | Maria Y. Chavez Armando Villa Ignacio Joshua K. Craver Jennifer Bousselot |
| author_facet | Maria Y. Chavez Armando Villa Ignacio Joshua K. Craver Jennifer Bousselot |
| author_sort | Maria Y. Chavez |
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| description | Insect frass is the left-over side stream from mass rearing insects as food and feed. Research indicates that black soldier fly, <i>Hermetia illucens</i>, larvae (BSFL) frass can improve the yield of leafy greens while also increasing nutrient uptake. Two studies evaluated the impact of BSFL frass on two Brassicaceae crops: kale (<i>Brassica oleracea</i>) and mustard (<i>Sinapis alba</i>). In Study 1, greenhouse potting mixes comprised of 10% BSFL frass produced kale and mustard fresh and dry weights, relative chlorophyll concentrations, and nitrogen concentration in plant tissues that were comparable to a 100% peat mix control. In mustard tissue, phosphorus and potassium concentrations were higher in the BSFL 10% treatment compared to the control. This provides further motive for incorporating frass into peat-based substrates to reduce peat consumption and extraction. In Study 2, Liquid BSFL frass tea was applied to kale in an outdoor container study. The frass tea only treatment produced the worst outcomes for yield. However, a mixture of frass tea and traditional fertilizer resulted in comparable yield to a control provided the same volume in solely fertilizer. With further research, frass tea could be supplemented to reduce conventional fertilizers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-86904cd70a2f43529e86ec8991bdface |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2813-3145 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Agrochemicals |
| spelling | doaj-art-86904cd70a2f43529e86ec8991bdface2025-08-20T02:24:00ZengMDPI AGAgrochemicals2813-31452025-05-0142810.3390/agrochemicals4020008Investigating Black Soldier Fly Larval (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Frass Applications as a Partial Peat Replacement and Liquid Fertilizer in Brassicaceae Crop ProductionMaria Y. Chavez0Armando Villa Ignacio1Joshua K. Craver2Jennifer Bousselot3Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center, Farmington, NM 87401, USADepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USADepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USADepartment of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USAInsect frass is the left-over side stream from mass rearing insects as food and feed. Research indicates that black soldier fly, <i>Hermetia illucens</i>, larvae (BSFL) frass can improve the yield of leafy greens while also increasing nutrient uptake. Two studies evaluated the impact of BSFL frass on two Brassicaceae crops: kale (<i>Brassica oleracea</i>) and mustard (<i>Sinapis alba</i>). In Study 1, greenhouse potting mixes comprised of 10% BSFL frass produced kale and mustard fresh and dry weights, relative chlorophyll concentrations, and nitrogen concentration in plant tissues that were comparable to a 100% peat mix control. In mustard tissue, phosphorus and potassium concentrations were higher in the BSFL 10% treatment compared to the control. This provides further motive for incorporating frass into peat-based substrates to reduce peat consumption and extraction. In Study 2, Liquid BSFL frass tea was applied to kale in an outdoor container study. The frass tea only treatment produced the worst outcomes for yield. However, a mixture of frass tea and traditional fertilizer resulted in comparable yield to a control provided the same volume in solely fertilizer. With further research, frass tea could be supplemented to reduce conventional fertilizers.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3145/4/2/8kalemustardblack soldier fly larvaefrasstea |
| spellingShingle | Maria Y. Chavez Armando Villa Ignacio Joshua K. Craver Jennifer Bousselot Investigating Black Soldier Fly Larval (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Frass Applications as a Partial Peat Replacement and Liquid Fertilizer in Brassicaceae Crop Production Agrochemicals kale mustard black soldier fly larvae frass tea |
| title | Investigating Black Soldier Fly Larval (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Frass Applications as a Partial Peat Replacement and Liquid Fertilizer in Brassicaceae Crop Production |
| title_full | Investigating Black Soldier Fly Larval (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Frass Applications as a Partial Peat Replacement and Liquid Fertilizer in Brassicaceae Crop Production |
| title_fullStr | Investigating Black Soldier Fly Larval (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Frass Applications as a Partial Peat Replacement and Liquid Fertilizer in Brassicaceae Crop Production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating Black Soldier Fly Larval (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Frass Applications as a Partial Peat Replacement and Liquid Fertilizer in Brassicaceae Crop Production |
| title_short | Investigating Black Soldier Fly Larval (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) Frass Applications as a Partial Peat Replacement and Liquid Fertilizer in Brassicaceae Crop Production |
| title_sort | investigating black soldier fly larval i hermetia illucens i frass applications as a partial peat replacement and liquid fertilizer in brassicaceae crop production |
| topic | kale mustard black soldier fly larvae frass tea |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3145/4/2/8 |
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