Application of insect-derived resources as soil amendments

Commodities

Practices

Sustainable agriculture is essential to address modern challenges
like population growth and resource conservation. Also, it aligns
with circular economy principles. The drive towards sustainable
agriculture comes from the result of soil erosion, excessive use
of pesticides and other contributing factors. Soil fertility
decline is a major concern in all agricultural systems, but
particularly in urban settings where farmers are often
constrained by contaminants in the soil. A common approach to
build soil health is through the applications of amendments.
Amendments can provide several benefits such as improved soil
fertility and water holding capacity. Soil amendments can stem
from a variety of resources and often are the result of some form
of composting. A more recent source of soil amendments are those
derived from the production of insects for protein and include
Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly; BSF) or Acheta
domesticus (house cricket). Recent efforts out of Dr.
Ingwell’s lab, has focused on BSF because of the advantages
associated with their production on-farm. The larvae feed on a
wide range of organic waste streams and convert those sources
into different by-products. Specially, their use in waste
management application represents a worldwide benefit and the
potential to create circular economies. Amending the soil with
black soldier fly and other insect by-products can benefit crop
production, soil physical properties, and microbial communities.
However, knowledge gaps remain around the application rates and
impacts on crop production and herbivore susceptibility when
insect-derived amendments are utilized. My research aims to
improve urban farmers’ knowledge of insect-derived compost
benefits in crop production and the ability to produce their own
insect-derived compost on their farms. Through greenhouse assays
and laboratory analysis I will evaluate the impact of three
insect-derived soil amendments on resistance against two insect
herbivores plaguing brassica crop production. Results from this
study will be disseminated through demonstrational videos,
extension bulletins, oral presentations at grower and scientific
meetings, poster sessions, and field day demonstrations at our
research farms.

The targeted learning outcomes from this
study include 1) a better understanding of the impacts of
insect-derived soil amendments on plant defense, 2) urban farmers
will improve their knowledge of insect-derived compost benefits
in crop production, and 3) increase their ability to utilize
insect-derived amendments to improve soil health and crop
productivity. Action outcomes from this
study will be that urban farmers will be able to 1) improve crop
productivity through the application of insect-derived composts,
2) produce their own insect-derived amendments through black
soldier fly composting with locally available organic wastes, and
3) reduce input costs for soil amendments. These outcomes will be
achieved through greenhouse research and dissemination of
findings at field days and grower conferences. I will produce
educational materials (video and print) as additional training
resources.