Unraveling the role of black soldier fly larvae in chicken manure conversion: Facilitating maturation and enhancing humification

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have garnered considerable attention for their efficacy in mitigating waste management challenges. However, their potential in treating antibiotics contaminated chicken manure remains uncertain. This study investigates the physicochemical properties changes and nutrient dynamics during the composting of contaminated-chicken manure using BSFL. The results indicate that BSFL treatment reduces electrical conductivity (by 6.01–58.09 %), organic matter, and dissolved organic carbon content in chicken manure throughout the composting process, while maintaining a more stable pH value (pH ∼ 6.0–8.0). This is attributed to the consumption of organic matter by BSFL and the subsequent promotion of organic acid formation. Additionally, BSFL treatment improves the degree of aromatization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in chicken manure and increases the proportions of fulvic acid (up to 48.77 %) and humic acid (maximally 14.27 %) within the DOM. The germination index and pot experiments indicated improved compost maturity and plant growth in BSFL-treated composts. Furthermore, BSFL meal demonstrated high protein and essential fatty acid content, highlighting its potential as a protein supplement in animal feed. This study underscores the efficacy of BSFL in enhancing compost quality and nutrient availability, offering a sustainable solution for waste management and animal feed production.