Effects of different application doses of black soldier fly frass Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomydae) on soybean plant performances and arthropod abundance
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Abstract. Yudistira DH, Sandi YU, Wirabumi BA, Damayanti A, Wikandari P, Sato S. 2025. Effects of different application doses of black soldier fly frass Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomydae) on soybean plant performances and arthropod abundance. Asian J Agric 9: 40-51. Food waste poses a global challenge, contributing approximately 3.49 billion tons of CO2 to the atmosphere annually. Recycling this waste into valuable soil nutrients is a viable solution. This study focuses on black soldier fly Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomydae) larvae, which convert organic waste into protein-rich biomass and frass, a potential soil amendment. However, the effects of black soldier fly frass on crop performance and biodiversity remain underexplored. We investigated the impact of three different frass doses (0, 2.5, and 5 tons/ha) on the growth of the Tsuruoka soybean variety (Glycine max L.), dadachamame. Results showed no significant differences in plant height (p =0.07), but higher doses increased leaf count (p<0.01) and SPAD values significantly (p<0.001), with 2.5 tons/ha improving leaf count by 26% and SPAD values by 16%. Yield analysis revealed that 2.5 tons/ha increased the number of filled pods by 29% (p<0.05) and reduced empty pods by 52% (p<0.001), thereby enhancing pod quality. Arthropod analysis indicated that 5 tons/ha significantly increased overall arthropod abundance (p<0.001), particularly predators (p<0.001) and herbivores (p<0.001), while 2.5 tons/ha balanced predator abundance, thereby controlling herbivores and supporting biodiversity. These findings suggest that an application dose of 2.5 tons/ha is optimal for improving edamame yield and quality while maintaining a balanced arthropod ecosystem, demonstrating black soldier fly frass as a nutrient-rich, eco-friendly input that supports sustainable agriculture.
2017-01-01
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