Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

There is a pressing need for implementing more sustainable fertilizers in agriculture. Through a laboratory incubation trial and subsequent data analysis of a previously perfomed field trial, this study aimed to evaluate the nitrogen (N) release dynamics of soil treated with novel fertilizers derived from human urine and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) frass, and to assess their potential compared to commercial NPK fertilizer. Soil samples underwent various treatments, including urine pellets, BSFL frass, commercial NPK fertilizer, and no fertilizer. Incubated at 15 °C, samples were periodically sampled over a 63-day period for nitrate-N and ammonium-N extraction analysis. The findings suggested that urine pellets demonstrated promise as a viable alternative to commercial NPK fertilizer, exhibiting comparable mineral N release dynamics. This observation was reinforced by field trial results, which revealed significantly higher barley yields in urine fertilized soil compared to unfertilized soil, with yields similar to those of NPK fertilized barley. Additionally, BSFL frass showed potential as a slow-release N fertilizer in both the laboratory and field trials. Moving forward, continued research is essential to optimize the utilization of urine pellets and BSFL frass among various crops and soil types.