Nutrient quality and maturity status of frass fertilizer from nine edible insects

Beesigamukama, Dennis; Subramanian, Sevgan; Tanga, Chrysantus M.

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-11336-z

Cited by 42 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…This may explain early seedling inhibition but the absence of long-term effect during plant growth. Contrary to Beesigamukama who suggested that prior composting of T. molitor frass was necessary to circumvent phytotoxic effects, our results suggest that soil processes after application are sufficient to promote plant growth and yield with T.…”

Section: Results and Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

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Growth Trials on Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers Using Mealworm Frass, Chicken Manure, and Municipal Compost

Hénault-Éthier

Reid

Hotte³

et al. 2023

ACS Agric. Sci. Technol.

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With the growth of the insect farming industry, increasing quantities of insect manure (called frass) must be upcycled. This research provides one of the first sources of information regarding the potential plant growth enhancement of Tenebrio molitor's frass on garden plants. It aims at demonstrating that frass is a promising fertilizer for plant production. Nine vegetables, one herb, and three flowers were planted on the roof of "La Centrale Agricole" in Montreal. Plants were grown in a 5% compost-enriched substrate (v/v) (control) and fertilized with 0.5% (v/v) frass (treatment 2) or an isonitrogen concentration of hen manure (treatment 3). Plant growth (germination, height, N flowers) and productivity (biomass) were assessed regularly throughout the growing season. Although beets and carrots' seedling emergence was inhibited by both manures, this did not lead to reduced edible biomass compared to the control (germination was unaffected for corn, radish, and arugula). Similar to hen manure, frass resulted in a 16-fold increase of the edible biomass as compared to the control. Frass-fertilized plants had larger and more numerous flowers than control plants. Our results confirm that insect manure should be recognized as a suitable fertilizer for multiple crops, and should be regulated like other manures.

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Section: Results and Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…These authors suggest that T. molitor frass high salt concentration and electrical conductivity could explain seedling phytotoxicity. 53 Kebrom et al 54 discussed the strong phytotoxic effects of hen manure on the germination of collard greens. Hence, our results confirm that germination decrease is not different between insects and hen manure.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth Trials on Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers Using Mealworm Frass, Chicken Manure, and Municipal Compost

Hénault-Éthier

Reid

Hotte³

et al. 2023

ACS Agric. Sci. Technol.

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“…Edible insects provide considerable environmental benefits, for example, by assisting in pollination activities, bio-degradation activities and humus formation, while also assisting in improving soil structure [ 27 ]. In addition, edible insects are also emerging as key in the recycling of organic waste into frass fertilisers that are of high quality in nature [ 61 ]. Some insects that have proven their capability in producing frass fertilisers include the black soldier fly, P.sinuata , O.rhinoceros and H.illucens [ 61 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, edible insects are also emerging as key in the recycling of organic waste into frass fertilisers that are of high quality in nature [ 61 ]. Some insects that have proven their capability in producing frass fertilisers include the black soldier fly, P.sinuata , O.rhinoceros and H.illucens [ 61 ]. The utilisation of insects in the recycling of organic waste promotes cleaner sustainable production systems and decreases environmental contamination [ 17 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Edible Insects Consumption in Africa towards Environmental Health and Sustainable Food Systems: A Bibliometric Study

Matandirotya

Filho

Mahed

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Africa is home to an estimated wild edible insect population of 1000 species that offer an opportunity for sustainable food systems while also improving food and nutrition security on the continent. Edible insect consumption has been part of African communities for a long time and forms part of their diets and cuisines, particularly within low-income households with limited resources. The purpose of our study was to investigate and review the contribution that edible insects can make towards the realisation of sustainable food systems, and environmental/planetary health including the fulfilment of Sustainable Development Goal number 2 (zero hunger). Our study applied a bibliometric analysis approach using VOS Viewer, a data mining software. The study established that the consumption of edible insects is still widespread across many African countries and therefore can be used as an avenue for improving environmental health and enhancing food systems on the continent through a reduction in meat-based diets. This, in the long term, will also reduce the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane from livestock production-related activities. Edible insects are also known to contain a high percentage nutrient content of proteins, fats and iron and, thus, can also play a vital role in reducing food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly within low-income households. Due to the existence of a high number of edible insect species on the continent, communities in Africa can easily access sources that can further be preserved using various indigenous techniques while also having minimal impact on the environment. In addition, being a source of nutritious food, edible insects can also be a source of establishing sustainable livelihoods, as well as being able to be commercialised, thus further creating employment opportunities and economic growth. Some of the notable edible insects in abundance on the continent include termites, ants, crickets and caterpillars. Our study recommends that Africa should commercialise edible insect production, in addition to preservation processing that leads to the eradication of perennial food insecurity and malnutrition and improves environmental health, as well as developing sustainable food systems. We also further recommend the establishment of food safety guidelines on edible insects as most African countries do not have such a plan in place currently.

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“…Depending on the farmed species and the substrate used to grow the insects, the general composition of frass can be highly diverse. However, its fertilizing effect is associated with the high content of organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus that are comparable to other organic fertilizers (Beesigamukama et al, 2022). In addition, the chitin contained in shed skins or dead insects has been shown to improve plant immune responses and stress tolerance by simulating contact with potential pest insects (Barragán-Fonseca et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frass fertilizers from mass-reared insects: species variation, heat treatment effects, and implications for soil application

Praeg,

Klammsteiner

2023

Preprint

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Insect farming has gained popularity as a resource-efficient and eco-friendly method of managing organic wastes by converting them into high-quality protein, fat, and frass. Insect frass is a powerful organic fertilizer, enriching the soil with essential plant nutrients and enhancing plant defense mechanisms through chitin stimulation. Given the importance of frass commercialization for many insect farmers and the use of increasingly diverse organic wastes as insect feedstock, the need for legal guidelines to enable clean production practices has emerged. The recent introduction of a legal definition for frass and heat treatment requirements by the EU commission marks a significant step towards standardizing its quality. However, frass composition is influenced by numerous factors, and little is known about the processes shaping its nutritional profiles and contributing to its maturation. Here, we analyzed the physicochemical, plant-nutritional, and microbiological properties of black soldier fly, yellow mealworm, and Jamaican field cricket frass from mass-rearing operations and assessed the impact of hygienizing heat treatment. Frass properties varied significantly across insect species, revealing concentrations of plant available nutrients reaching as high as 7000 μg NH4+, 150 μg NO2-NO3--N, and 20 mg P per g of total solids. Heat treatment affected microbial activity by reducing basal respiration and microbial biomass carbon, but also reducing viable counts of pathogenicE. coliandSalmonella sp.In terms of microbiome composition, alpha diversity showed no significant differences between fresh and heat-treated frass samples within each insect species, but significant distinctions were observed across the three insect species. The soil application of frass reactivated and boosted soil microbial activity, suggesting no long-term detrimental effects on microorganisms. These results further highlight the potential of insect frass as nutrient rich organic fertilizer, with promising benefits for soil health and nutrient cycling.

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Nutrient quality and maturity status of frass fertilizer from nine edible insects

Cited by 42 publications

References 70 publications

Growth Trials on Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers Using Mealworm Frass, Chicken Manure, and Municipal Compost

Growth Trials on Vegetables, Herbs, and Flowers Using Mealworm Frass, Chicken Manure, and Municipal Compost

Edible Insects Consumption in Africa towards Environmental Health and Sustainable Food Systems: A Bibliometric Study

Frass fertilizers from mass-reared insects: species variation, heat treatment effects, and implications for soil application

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