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Evaluating Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens (L.) Residues from Various Organic Feedstocks as Organic Fertilizers for Sweet Corn Cultivation in Thailand

Evaluating Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens (L.) Residues from Various Organic Feedstocks as Organic Fertilizers for Sweet Corn Cultivation in Thailand

May 30, 2025Online First Articles https://doi.org/10.55003/cast.2025.264421

Abstract

Black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens (L.)) cultivation produces residues that can serve as valuable sources of organic matter. In this study, we used five organic materials—chicken feed, tofu meal, pineapple peel, cassava meal, and dry chicken manure—as feed for BSF larvae. The nutrient content and properties of the resulting residues for sweet corn cultivation were analyzed. The highest decomposition rate was observed with tofu meal, at 46.46 mg day-1. Residues from BSF larvae fed chicken feed were the richest in nitrogen at 3.75%. Residues from larvae fed dry chicken manure and pineapple peel contained the highest levels of phosphorus and potassium at 4.88% and 5.17%, respectively. All treatments, except for those with dry chicken manure, showed extremely high levels of organic matter in the range of 32.56–83.52%. Notably, residues from BSF larvae fed cassava meal exhibited the highest seed germination index at 94.87% as well as the highest unhusked ear weight, at 437.10 kg ha-1 and husked ear length, at 18.47 cm. These results showed that the use of BSF residues improved the growth and yield of sweet corn. Thus, these findings suggest the potential for using BSF-derived organic fertilizers in sweet corn cultivation in Thailand.

References

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Author Information

Supphawed Tussanakit

Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand

Sirinapa Chungopast

Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand

Chanwit Kaewtapee

Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Roungthip Masmeatathip

Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand

Yoshiki Matsumoto

Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan

Kiyonori Kawasaki

Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan

Mika Nomura

Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan

About this Article

Journal

Online First Articles

Keywords

black soldier fly
decomposition
organic material
sweet corn
organic fertilizer

Published

30 May 2025

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