Partially replacing synthetic fertilizer with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae frass enhances kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) production

Nicholas Romano; Surjya Narayan Datta; Amit Kumar Sinha; Gde Sasmita Julyantoro Pande; Nicholas Romano; Surjya Narayan Datta; Amit Kumar Sinha; Gde Sasmita Julyantoro Pande

doi:10.48130/TIH-2023-0008

Figures (1) Tables (2)

Figure 1.
Mean (± SE) growth of kale when receiving weekly applications of a synthetic fertilizer (control), diluted synthetic fertilizer with black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) frass as a one-time application (½ fert frass) and only BSFL frass as a one-time application (Frass). Different letters indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

	Control	½ fert frass	Frass
Macronutrients
Phosphorus	1.26 ± 0.28^a	1.50 ± 0.17^a	1.71 ± 0.07^a
Calcium	4.02 ± 0.05^a	4.24 ± 0.27^a	3.91 ± 0.26^a
Potassium	16.19 ± 1.76^b	35.67 ± 4.00^a	30.37 ± 5.19^ab
Magnesium	2.75 ± 0.10^b	3.52 ± 0.26^a	3.68 ± 0.11^a
Micronutrients
Iron	0.36 ± 0.03^a	0.10 ± 0.01^b	0.15 ± 0.07^b
Manganese	0.07 ± 0.00^b	0.05 ± 0.00^b	0.09 ± 0.01^a
Sodium	1.32 ± 0.04^b	1.40 ± 0.01^a	1.44 ± 0.01^a
Zinc	0.05 ± 0.01^b	0.11 ± 0.02^b	0.39 ± 0.06^a
Different superscripted letters in the same row indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

Table 1.

Mean (± SE) mineral composition (mg/g) of kale when receiving weekly applications of a synthetic fertilizer (control), diluted synthetic fertilizer with black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) frass as a one-time application (½ fert frass) and only BSFL frass as a one-time application (frass).

	Control	½ fert frass	Frass
Moisture (%)	80.77 ± 1.40	85.59 ± 0.53	84.12 ± 1.80
Chlorophyll	1.31 ± 0.20^ab	1.62 ± 0.07^a	1.02 ± 0.02^b
Monosaccharides
Xylose	0.35 ± 0.08	0.46 ± 0.08	0.38 ± 0.05
Arabinose	0.56 ± 0.05	0.57 ± 0.02	0.51 ± 0.03
Fucose	0.16 ± 0.03	0.15 ± 0.01	0.14 ± 0.01
Mannose	0.19 ± 0.01^b	0.26 ± 0.02^ab	0.27 ± 0.02^a
Glucose	5.90 ± 0.55	3.87 ± 0.31	5.07 ± 0.84
Galactose	0.76 ± 0.02	0.81 ± 0.02	0.83 ± 0.03
Total	7.92 ± 0.54	6.12 ± 0.02	7.20 ± 0.03
Different superscripted letters in the same row indicate significant differences (p < 0.05).

Table 2.

Mean (± SE) moisture (%), chlorophyll (mg/g), and monosaccharide composition (g/100 g) of kale when receiving weekly applications of a synthetic fertilizer (control), diluted synthetic fertilizer with black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) frass as a one-time application (½ fert frass) and only BSFL frass as a one-time application (frass).