Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field Conditions
Black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) is increasingly gaining momentum worldwide as organic fertilizer. However, research on its performance on crop production remains largely unknown. Here, we evaluate the comparative performance of BSFFF and commercial organic fertilizer (SAFI) on maize (H513...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2020.574592/full |
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| author | Dennis Beesigamukama Dennis Beesigamukama Dennis Beesigamukama Benson Mochoge Nicholas K. Korir Komi K. M. Fiaboe Komi K. M. Fiaboe Dorothy Nakimbugwe Fathiya M. Khamis Sevgan Subramanian Thomas Dubois Martha W. Musyoka Sunday Ekesi Segenet Kelemu Chrysantus M. Tanga |
| author_facet | Dennis Beesigamukama Dennis Beesigamukama Dennis Beesigamukama Benson Mochoge Nicholas K. Korir Komi K. M. Fiaboe Komi K. M. Fiaboe Dorothy Nakimbugwe Fathiya M. Khamis Sevgan Subramanian Thomas Dubois Martha W. Musyoka Sunday Ekesi Segenet Kelemu Chrysantus M. Tanga |
| author_sort | Dennis Beesigamukama |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) is increasingly gaining momentum worldwide as organic fertilizer. However, research on its performance on crop production remains largely unknown. Here, we evaluate the comparative performance of BSFFF and commercial organic fertilizer (SAFI) on maize (H513) production. Both fertilizers were applied at the rates of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 t ha-1, and 0, 30, 60, and 100 kg nitrogen (N) ha-1. Mineral fertilizer (urea) was also applied at 0, 30, 60 and 100 kg N ha-1 to establish the N fertilizer equivalence (NFE) of the organic fertilizers. Maize grown in plots treated with BSFFF had the tallest plants and highest chlorophyll concentrations. Plots treated with 7.5 t ha-1 of BSFFF had 14% higher grain yields than plots treated with a similar rate of SAFI. There was a 27% and 7% increase in grain yields in plots treated with 100 kg N ha-1 of BSFFF compared to those treated with equivalent rates of SAFI and urea fertilizers, respectively. Application of BSFFF at 7.5 t ha-1 significantly increased N uptake by up to 23% compared to the equivalent rate of SAFI. Likewise, application of BSFFF at 100 kg N ha-1 increased maize N uptake by 76% and 29% compared to SAFI and urea, respectively. Maize treated with BSFFF at 2.5 t ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1 had higher nitrogen recovery efficiencies compared to equivalent rates of SAFI. The agronomic N use efficiency (AEN) of maize treated with 2.5 t ha-1 of BSFFF was 2.4 times higher than the value achieved using an equivalent rate of SAFI. Also, the AEN of maize grown using 30 kg N ha-1 was 27% and 116% higher than the values obtained using equivalent rates of SAFI and urea fertilizers, respectively. The NFE of BSFFF (108%) was 2.5 times higher than that of SAFI. Application rates of 2.5 t ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1 of BSFFF were found to be effective in improving maize yield, while double rates of SAFI were required. Our findings demonstrate that BSFFF is a promising and sustainable alternative to commercial fertilizers for increased maize production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:42:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4963c23e44c45a0a281c20dc66083b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:42:18Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4963c23e44c45a0a281c20dc66083b02022-12-22T02:39:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2020-09-011110.3389/fpls.2020.574592574592Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field ConditionsDennis Beesigamukama0Dennis Beesigamukama1Dennis Beesigamukama2Benson Mochoge3Nicholas K. Korir4Komi K. M. Fiaboe5Komi K. M. Fiaboe6Dorothy Nakimbugwe7Fathiya M. Khamis8Sevgan Subramanian9Thomas Dubois10Martha W. Musyoka11Sunday Ekesi12Segenet Kelemu13Chrysantus M. Tanga14International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Crop Production and Management, Busitema University, Tororo, UgandaDepartment of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, KenyaDepartment of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Yaoundé, CameroonDepartment of Food Technology and Nutrition, School of Food Technology, Nutrition & Bioengineering, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, KenyaBlack soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF) is increasingly gaining momentum worldwide as organic fertilizer. However, research on its performance on crop production remains largely unknown. Here, we evaluate the comparative performance of BSFFF and commercial organic fertilizer (SAFI) on maize (H513) production. Both fertilizers were applied at the rates of 0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 t ha-1, and 0, 30, 60, and 100 kg nitrogen (N) ha-1. Mineral fertilizer (urea) was also applied at 0, 30, 60 and 100 kg N ha-1 to establish the N fertilizer equivalence (NFE) of the organic fertilizers. Maize grown in plots treated with BSFFF had the tallest plants and highest chlorophyll concentrations. Plots treated with 7.5 t ha-1 of BSFFF had 14% higher grain yields than plots treated with a similar rate of SAFI. There was a 27% and 7% increase in grain yields in plots treated with 100 kg N ha-1 of BSFFF compared to those treated with equivalent rates of SAFI and urea fertilizers, respectively. Application of BSFFF at 7.5 t ha-1 significantly increased N uptake by up to 23% compared to the equivalent rate of SAFI. Likewise, application of BSFFF at 100 kg N ha-1 increased maize N uptake by 76% and 29% compared to SAFI and urea, respectively. Maize treated with BSFFF at 2.5 t ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1 had higher nitrogen recovery efficiencies compared to equivalent rates of SAFI. The agronomic N use efficiency (AEN) of maize treated with 2.5 t ha-1 of BSFFF was 2.4 times higher than the value achieved using an equivalent rate of SAFI. Also, the AEN of maize grown using 30 kg N ha-1 was 27% and 116% higher than the values obtained using equivalent rates of SAFI and urea fertilizers, respectively. The NFE of BSFFF (108%) was 2.5 times higher than that of SAFI. Application rates of 2.5 t ha-1 and 30 kg N ha-1 of BSFFF were found to be effective in improving maize yield, while double rates of SAFI were required. Our findings demonstrate that BSFFF is a promising and sustainable alternative to commercial fertilizers for increased maize production.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2020.574592/fullagronomic nitrogen use efficiencyfrass fertilizerHermetia illucensmaize yieldnitrogen fertilizer equivalencenitrogen recovery efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Dennis Beesigamukama Dennis Beesigamukama Dennis Beesigamukama Benson Mochoge Nicholas K. Korir Komi K. M. Fiaboe Komi K. M. Fiaboe Dorothy Nakimbugwe Fathiya M. Khamis Sevgan Subramanian Thomas Dubois Martha W. Musyoka Sunday Ekesi Segenet Kelemu Chrysantus M. Tanga Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field Conditions Frontiers in Plant Science agronomic nitrogen use efficiency frass fertilizer Hermetia illucens maize yield nitrogen fertilizer equivalence nitrogen recovery efficiency |
| title | Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field Conditions |
| title_full | Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field Conditions |
| title_short | Exploring Black Soldier Fly Frass as Novel Fertilizer for Improved Growth, Yield, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Maize Under Field Conditions |
| title_sort | exploring black soldier fly frass as novel fertilizer for improved growth yield and nitrogen use efficiency of maize under field conditions |
| topic | agronomic nitrogen use efficiency frass fertilizer Hermetia illucens maize yield nitrogen fertilizer equivalence nitrogen recovery efficiency |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2020.574592/full |
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