This study aims to assess the decomposition of manure biodegraded by fly larvae and the nutrient mineralization rates to understand the efficiency of the biodegraded manures for further use as soil amendment. A litter bag experiment was carried out over 75 d in an Acrisol in Benin using poultry manure, pig manure, mixture of poultry and sheep manure, mixture of poultry and cow manure, and mixture of poultry and pig manure, biodegraded by Musca domestica larvae. Nutrients content in the manures during the different stages of decomposition was analyzed. The mono-component exponential model Yt = Y0 × e−kt best described the manure decomposition and nutrients mineralization. The manures decomposed fast in the soil, and their nutrients were released fast in the poultry manure, the mixture of poultry and pig manure, and the mixture of poultry and cow manure. Nutrient mineralization increased in the order of P < N < K or N < P < K. Biodegradation of animal manures by fly larvae produced high-quality organic fertilizer through fast N and P release. This could aid in reducing the quantities of these elements applied as mineral fertilizer by farmers for sustaining agricultural soil productivity.
The use of fly larvae as protein source for poultry and agent of biodegradation of organic substrates such as manure proves to be a promising and innovative technology for resource poor farmers. The study aimed at categorizing the organic substrates regarding their capacity to attract flies and to produce fly larvae, and at discussing their utilization in the agricultural domain in southern Benin. A total of 390 farmers were surveyed from October to November 2015 in the six departments (Atlantique, Ouémé, Plateau, Mono, Couffo and Zou) of southern Benin using an open-ended questionnaire. Most of the farmers had limited knowledge on the use of fly larvae to feed poultry. Some of them were not aware of the role of fly larvae in the degradation of the organic substrates. Three utilizations of these organic substrates were mentioned by the farmers: organic fertilizer, fly larvae production, and food for poultry. Animals' intestines, carcasses, poultry manure, pig manure were mentioned as animal residues attracting flies and potentially suitable for fly larvae production. Suitable plant residues for fly larvae production included agro-artisanal by-products such as soybean bran, corn bran and sorghum bran; brewery malt, rotten papaya fruits, mango rind and rotten banana fruits. The study suggests that these different types of substrate should be assessed for their suitability in fly larvae production and that the quality of residues obtained from the degradation by the fly larvae should be evaluated in the perspective of soil fertility replenishment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.