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Sammanfattning

The house cricket (Acheta domesticus) is a widely farmed edible insect species, and its by-product - frass - has potential as a sustainable soil amendment. However, the efficacy of frass may depend on how it is pre-treated and applied. This study evaluated the effects of cricket frass on the vegetative growth and nutrient concentration of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) under different frass pre-treatments and application methods. Wheat was potgrown in a greenhouse for eight weeks from seed germination to flowering with one control (no frass) and six experimental treatments, combining two pre-treatments (non-heated and heat-treated frass) and three frass application methods (surface application, mixed into the substrate, and 2-week delayed application). Germination, plant height, shoot biomass, leaf chlorophyll content, and shoot nutrient concentration were measured. Frass pretreatment and application method significantly influenced wheat growth and nutrient concentration. Germination reached 100% with heat-treated frass mixed into the substrate and delayed application of no-heat frass but dropped to 60% with surface-applied heat-treated frass. The tallest plants grew with no-heat frass mixed into the substrate, while surface application, regardless of heat treatment, produced the greatest shoot biomass. Delayed application, regardless of pre-treatment, resulted in the highest leaf chlorophyll content. Surface-applied heat-treated frass increased plant nitrogen and potassium concentrations, whereas no-heat mixed frass enhanced phosphorus levels. These findings demonstrate that cricket frass can improve wheat growth and nutrient concentration, but its effects vary by pre-treatment and application method. Optimising these factors could maximise its potential as a sustainable soil amendment in crop production.

Nyckelord

Acheta domesticus; biostimulant; edible insects; insect f aeces; organic f ertiliser

Publicerad i

Journal of insects as food and feed
2025, volym: 11, nummer: 16, sidor: 3007-3016
Utgivare: BRILL

SLU författare

UKÄ forskningsämne

Jordbruksvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/23524588-BJA1024

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/145650