Protaetia brevitarsis larvae can efficiently convert herbaceous and ligneous plant residues to humic acids. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yimei; Fu, Tong; Geng, Lili; Shi, Yu; Chu, Haiyan; Liu, Fushun; Liu, Chunqin; Song, Fuping; Zhang, Jie; Shu, Changlong
• Is Part Of: Waste management. Volume 83(2019)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Agricultural residues -- Organic fertilizer -- Insect manure -- Humic acids; Hazardous wastes -- Periodicals; Refuse and refuse disposal -- Periodicals; 363.728
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2018.11.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-053X

Abstract

Highlights: P. brevitarsis larvae can convert agricultural residues to organic manure. Maize and sawdust were converted to manure by larvae. Larval digestion produced non-phytotoxic manure with high quality humic acids. Manure humic acids shared structural similarities with soil humic acids. P. brevitarsis offers a solution to the buildup of agricultural residues in China. Abstract: Utilization of the organic residues produced after crop harvesting is currently an important issue across the world. The edible insect Protaetia brevitarsis larvae can feed various organic matters. In this paper, we investigated the potential to utilize the insect to convert herbaceous and ligneous plant residues. We feed the insect larvae with maize straw and sawdust and analyzed the produced insect manure. P. brevitarsis larval was found to be able to digest both herbaceous and ligneous straw and insect manure extract shown no phytotoxicity. The mass fractions of humic acids (HAs) in the insect manure derived from maize straw and sawdust digestion were 24.37% and 14.46%, respectively. The 13 C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP–MAS NMR) spectra data indicated that the HAs in the insect manure were similar to those found in the soil. These data suggested that P. brevitarsis larvae can be used to convert agricultural residues and produce organic fertilizers.