Black soldier fly-composted organic fertilizer enhances growth, yield, and nutrient quality of three key vegetable crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

The study compares performance of composted black soldier fly frass fertilizer (BSFFF), conventionally composted brewer’s spent grain (BSG), commercial organic fertilizer (Evergrow), and mineral [nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK)] fertilizer on growth, yield, N use efficiency, and nutritional quality of tomatoes, kales, and French beans under greenhouse and open-field conditions for two seasons. Findings show that the highest agronomic N use efficiency was achieved in sole BSFFF-treated plots compared to sole BSG and Evergrow. The Nitrogen taken up by the vegetables was significantly higher when BSFFF and NPK were integrated. Most soils in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are deficient in macronutrients and secondary nutrients [calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) due to soil erosion and leaching losses.

Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research

WOTRO Science for Global Development (NWO-WOTRO)

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

Rockefeller Foundation