Assessment of the Short-Term Fertilizer Potential of Mealworm Frass Using a Pot Experiment

The forecasted growth of insect production in the next few years will generate high quantities frass (insect excreta). Although is increasingly considered a potential fertilizer, dynamics nutrient supply by still poorly understood. Here, we aimed at gaining insight into short-term fertilizer value from mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor L.) order to optimize its sustainable use agroecosystems. Using pot experiment, showed that, even though has great be used as substitute mineral NPK N mediated rate application. At 10 t ha ?1 , due fast mineralization coupled with improvement microbial activity (assessed using Biolog EcoPlate), was effective plant. By contrast, 5 lower induced reduced uptake compared control. Unlike N, P and K plants irrespective application rate. This attributed presence readily available form frass. Taken together, our results indicate that supplies very rapidly but effects on should better investigated warrant an alternative for managing nutrition cropping systems.