Título:	Yellow mealworm frass (Tenebrio molitor) as a biofertilizer for tomato plants.
Autor:	GONDIM, J. P. E. PONTES, N. de C. SALDANHA, M. F. C. ANDRADE, C. A. de BETTIOL, W.
Afiliación:	JOÃO PEDRO ELIAS GONDIM, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE LAVRAS; NADSON DE CARVALHO PONTES, INSTITUTO FEDERAL GOIANO; MARCELO FRANCISCO COSTA SALDANHA, CNPMA; CRISTIANO ALBERTO DE ANDRADE, CNPMA; WAGNER BETTIOL, CNPMA.
Año:	2025
Referencia:	Scientia Agricola, v. 82, e20240198, 2025.
Descripción:	Abstract: The incorporation of organic amendments into the soil offers numerous long-term benefits. Waste from Tenebrio molitor larvae production, including feces, exoskeletons, and feed residue, can serve as a valuable organic fertilizer. However, factors such as the type of waste, application rate, decomposition stage, and soil characteristics can significantly impact plant growth. This study evaluates the effectiveness of yellow mealworm frass as a biofertilizer for tomato plants. The waste was incorporated into the soil at concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 % (v/v) and incubated for 0, 10, and 20 days, after which ten tomato seeds were sown. Seedling emergence, as well as the fresh and dry weights of the tomato plants, were evaluated weekly. Additionally, the impact on tomato plant growth was studied under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that yellow mealworm frass did not exhibit phytotoxicity when incubated for more than 20 days; however, phytotoxic effects were observed at shorter incubation periods (0 and 10 days). After 20 days of incubation, both the fresh and dry mass of the plants increased proportionally with the rise in waste concentration. Greenhouse experiments further revealed that yellow mealworm frass enhanced stem diameter, fresh and dry mass, net photosynthesis, and water use efficiency of tomato plants. These findings underscore the potential of yellow mealworm frass as an effective organic fertilizer in agriculture.
Thesagro:	Biofertilizante Inseto Excremento Tomate
NAL Thesaurus:	Insects Tenebrio molitor Frass Biofertilizers Tomatoes Organic matter
Palabras clave:	Insect waste Organic matter Organic fertilizer Insect exoskeleton
ISSN:	1678-992X
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-992X-2024-0198
Tipo de Material:	Artigo de periódico
Acceso:	openAccess
Aparece en las colecciones:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPMA)