No Waste Left Behind
Insect Frass Improves Soil Fertility
Studies led by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) show insect frass can have higher carbon and nitrogen content than fossil fuel-based fertilizers and fewer pathogens than other animal manures. 👏 👏
These researchers, along with collaborators from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, also studied insect frass’ potential as an organic fertilizer source when used as a soil amendment in farming. 🧐
In a two-year field study, researchers found that frass from YELLOW MEALWORM increased the amount of carbon by two times and nitrogen by three times in soils than other sources like poultry litter and ammonium nitrate. 😳 👏
Furthermore, soils with frass addition produced crop yields and carbon dioxide emission rates similar to soils amended with poultry litter and ammonium nitrate.
Insect frass fertilizer as soil amendment for improved forage and soil health in circular systems (Published: 24 January 2025)