Abstract
Abstract Modern agriculture requires alternatives to counteract the price volatility and environmental impacts of synthetic fertilizers. Mealworm frass (MF) is being explored as a novel biofertilizer in sustainable agriculture. However, the in-depth characterization of its biofertilization potential is lacking. Similarly, the mechanistic role of its associated microbiota towards improving early plant growth response is unexplored. These are the gaps the current study addresses. Initially, the particle size and nutrient distribution of the MF were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Subsequently, microbial isolation and molecular identification characterized the MF-associated microbiome. Isolates were thereafter screened via various plant growth promotion (PGP) assays. Nutrient mineralization rates were calculated through soil incubation experiments. MF and chicken manure (CM) were incorporated into the soil at 1% (w/w) using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Additionally, the effects of the MF on Chinese kale (CK) growth and yield were evaluated under greenhouse conditions using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The results showed that MF had uniform nutrient distribution: high organic matter content (63.38%), the presence of essential nutrients (5.09% N, 1.71% P, and 2.82% K), and a low C:N ratio (6.69). Furthermore, the characterized MF microbiota comprised plant growth-promoting genera such as Streptomyces , Microbacterium , Brucella , Staphylococcus , and Rothia , which fix nitrogen, solubilize K & P, and produce IAA. Moreover, nutrients were released rapidly for plant uptake (7-day nitrogen mineralization rate = 93.75 mg kg −1 day −1 ). The CK growth trials showed that MF + 50% chemical fertilizer (CF) yielded the highest fresh weight (141.73 g plant −1 ) and crop quality (vitamin C: 227.97 mg plant −1 ; antioxidant activity: 238.10 µmol TE g −1 ). Usually, MF alone and MF + 50% CF outperformed CF and CM alone, respectively, in improving various plant growth responses, nutrient uptake, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C content ( p < 0.05). Taken together, our findings mechanistically portray MF (aided by PGP microbiota) as a biofertilizer for both organic and integrated farming systems. Further scale-up studies are recommended to fully justify the use of MF biofertilizer as a substitute for CF towards circular economy and agricultural sustainability principles. Graphical abstract
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass had 63.38% organic matter.
- Taxon
- Chinese kale
Brassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0 - Outcome
- organic matter contente0
- Value
- 63.38%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“high organic matter content (63.38%)”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass contained 5.09% nitrogen.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Outcome
- Ne0
- Value
- 5.09% Ne0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the presence of essential nutrients (5.09% N, 1.71% P, and 2.82% K)”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass contained 1.71% phosphorus.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Outcome
- Pe0
- Value
- 1.71% Pe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the presence of essential nutrients (5.09% N, 1.71% P, and 2.82% K)”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass contained 2.82% potassium.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Outcome
- Ke0
- Value
- 2.82% Ke0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the presence of essential nutrients (5.09% N, 1.71% P, and 2.82% K)”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass had a C:N ratio of 6.69.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Outcome
- C:N ratioe0
- Direction
- lowe0
- Value
- 6.69e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“a low C:N ratio (6.69)”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass released nitrogen at 93.75 mg kg −1 day −1 over seven days.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Outcome
- nitrogen mineralization ratee0
- Value
- 93.75 mg kg −1 day −1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“7-day nitrogen mineralization rate = 93.75 mg kg −1 day −1”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass with 50% chemical fertilizer produced the highest Chinese kale fresh weight, 141.73 g plant −1.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Treatment
- MF + 50% chemical fertilizer (CF)e0
- Outcome
- fresh weighte0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 141.73 g plant −1e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“MF + 50% chemical fertilizer (CF) yielded the highest fresh weight (141.73 g plant −1 )”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass with 50% chemical fertilizer gave Chinese kale vitamin C of 227.97 mg plant −1.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Treatment
- MF + 50% chemical fertilizer (CF)e0
- Outcome
- vitamin Ce0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 227.97 mg plant −1e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“MF + 50% chemical fertilizer (CF) yielded the highest fresh weight (141.73 g plant −1 ) and crop quality (vitamin C: 227.97 mg plant −1 ; antioxidant activity: 238.10 µmol TE g −1 )”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass with 50% chemical fertilizer gave Chinese kale antioxidant activity of 238.10 µmol TE g −1.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Treatment
- MF + 50% chemical fertilizer (CF)e0
- Outcome
- antioxidant activitye0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 238.10 µmol TE g −1e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“MF + 50% chemical fertilizer (CF) yielded the highest fresh weight (141.73 g plant −1 ) and crop quality (vitamin C: 227.97 mg plant −1 ; antioxidant activity: 238.10 µmol TE g −1 )”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass alone generally outperformed chemical fertilizer for plant growth, nutrient uptake, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C content.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Treatment
- MF alonee0
- Outcome
- plant growth responses, nutrient uptake, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C contente0
- Direction
- outperformede0
- Comparator
- CFe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“MF alone and MF + 50% CF outperformed CF and CM alone, respectively, in improving various plant growth responses, nutrient uptake, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C content ( p < 0.05)”
t0“Chinese kale”
Claim · model-written summary
Mealworm frass with 50% chemical fertilizer generally outperformed chicken manure alone for plant growth, nutrient uptake, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C content.
- Taxon
- Chinese kaleBrassica oleracea var. alboglabrat0
- Treatment
- MF + 50% CFe0
- Outcome
- plant growth responses, nutrient uptake, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C contente0
- Direction
- outperformede0
- Comparator
- CM alonee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“MF alone and MF + 50% CF outperformed CF and CM alone, respectively, in improving various plant growth responses, nutrient uptake, antioxidant activity, and vitamin C content ( p < 0.05)”
t0“Chinese kale”
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