Evaluating the Influence of Nutrient-Rich Substrates on the Growth and Waste Reduction Efficiency of Black Soldier Fly Larvae

Abeer Albalawneh (), Heba Hasan, Sami Faisal Alarsan, Mai Diab, Saja Abu Znaimah, Amer Sweity, Majdy Mohmad Aladwan, Bilal Sharman, Ahmad Mohammed Alalwan, Yazan AlBalawnah, Musa Abu Dayyeh and Ehab Alnaimat
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Abeer Albalawneh: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Heba Hasan: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Sami Faisal Alarsan: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Mai Diab: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Saja Abu Znaimah: Center on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development for Near East (CARDNE), Amman 11185, Jordan
Amer Sweity: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Majdy Mohmad Aladwan: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Bilal Sharman: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Ahmad Mohammed Alalwan: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Yazan AlBalawnah: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Musa Abu Dayyeh: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan
Ehab Alnaimat: The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Amman 19381, Jordan

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-16

Abstract: Background: The black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) has emerged as a promising tool in sustainable waste management, owing to its larvae’s ability to efficiently convert organic waste into valuable biomass. Objective: This study investigates the impact of various substrate compositions on the growth, waste reduction efficiency, and bioconversion rate of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae ( Hermetia illucens ). The aim is to optimize feeding strategies to enhance the effectiveness of BSF larvae in sustainable waste management and protein production. Methods: A controlled experiment was conducted over a 20-day period, using four different substrate types: 100% sludge, 75% sludge + 25% chicken feed, 25% sludge + 75% chicken feed, and 100% chicken feed. Each treatment had three replicates with 100 larvae each. Larval growth metrics, including weight and width, were recorded bi-daily. The waste reduction efficiency and bioconversion rate were calculated based on the remaining substrate weight and larval biomass, respectively. Elemental analysis was performed to determine the impact of substrate type on the accumulation of various elements in the larvae. Results: Significant differences were observed in larval growth, waste reduction efficiency, and bioconversion rates across the different substrates. The 100% chicken feed substrate led to the highest larval growth (M = 0.0881 g/day, SD = 0.0042) and bioconversion rate (M = 7.52%, SD = 0.34), while the 100% sludge substrate achieved the highest waste reduction rate (M = 86.2%, SD = 2.15). ANOVA tests indicated that substrate composition significantly affected these outcomes ( p < 0.05). Elemental analysis showed substantial variations in the concentrations of calcium, cadmium, and nickel among the substrates, with the 100% sludge substrate having the highest nickel accumulation (M = 0.2763 ppm, SD = 0.023), significantly different from the other treatments ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that substrate composition is crucial for optimizing BSF larvae growth and waste reduction efficiency. Nutrient-rich substrates, such as chicken feed, significantly enhance bioconversion rates and larval biomass production, although careful consideration of elemental accumulation, especially heavy metals, is essential for safe application in animal feed.

Keywords: black soldier fly; Hermetia illucens; bioconversion; waste reduction; substrate composition; larval growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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