Evaluation of Hermetia illucens fly maggots zoocompost influence on some agrophysical parameters of soil

Abstract

Nowadays the application of intensive agriculture methods, based on using mineral fertilizers, plant-protecting agents, cultivating operations, has resulted in soil cover degradation. The usage of organic fertilizers can improve the structure and agrochemical characteristics of soil. As organic fertilizers the composts of various compositions are used, including those based on poultry-farming and stock-raising enterprises’ waste with the use of other components – peat, sapropel, wood processing waste and food production waste. The application of composts represented with vermiculture products is also known – the organic matter vermicomposting products, or those formed at rearing insects, for example, Hermetia illucens fly. As a result of organic waste bioconversion by feeding it to Hermetia illucens fly maggots a zoocompost is formed, which is a mix of maggots’ excrements and undigested waste residues. In this work we researched the influence of zoocompost, formed at rearing maggots of a fly of the dipteran order – Hermetia illucens, – its amount, conditions and methods of its application on physical characteristics of soil fertility – granulometric texture and moisture deposit at the end of growing season. The evaluation was performed by results of a micro-plot field experiment on a specially allotted plot. The research findings have demonstrated that zoocompost in its nutrient elements content corresponds to organic fertilizers, and by its physical parameters it can be used as soil loosener. The application of zoocompost to soil samples in amount of 5 t/ha increases the moisture deposit by 28.4% and improves the structural state of soil to the «good» grade in comparison with the control plot.