The Influence of Black Soldier Fly Residue on Watermelon Growth and the Properties of a Coarse-Textured Ultisol

Abstract

Improving the fertility status of nutrient-depleted soils is critical to achieving food security. The negative effects of chemical fertilizers on soils necessitate the global quest for eco-friendly, effective, and sustainable alternatives. This work assessed the effect of black soldier fly (BSF) residue application on soil properties and watermelon growth. The study was set up in a completely randomized design with six replications. The treatments were BSF1 (BSF applied at 10 t ha−1), BSF2 (20 t ha−1), BSF3 (30 t ha−1), and control. The plant data collected in this study were vine length, leaf width, number of leaves, and stem girth, and the soil’s physicochemical properties were determined. The results show that BSF residue-treated soils had 20.4–49.5% higher aggregate stability and 50–160% higher hydraulic conductivity than the control treatment. BSF residue-treated soils had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher pH, total N, available P, exchangeable K, and organic carbon than the control treatment. BSF3 treatment had the highest effect on available P and soil pH relative to other amended treatments. High rates of BSF residue application did not significantly increase the total available N and P contents, which could suggest that BSF application at 30 t ha−1 may not pose a risk of N and P pollution to water systems. BSF residue-treated soils improved (p < 0.05) watermelon growth parameters relative to the control. Watermelon leaf length was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) longer for BSF residue-treated soils than the control treatment. A similar trend was observed for the number of leaves, leaf width, and stem girth. At 4, 6, and 10 weeks after sowing, BSF residue-treated plants had 38.2–104%, 22.7–118%, and 25.7–103% longer vine lengths than the control treatment, respectively. The study results suggest that BSF residue application can enhance the fertility status of a coarse-textured ultisol for watermelon production.