Influence of zoocompost on the growth and development of marigolds

The article presents the results of a study of the effect of aqueous and alkaline extracts of zoocompost – a product of waste processing by black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) – on the vegetative growth, development and decorative characteristics of marigolds (Tagetes patula L. variety Bonanza orange). The experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions (temperature +20…+26 °C, humidity 70–80 %) under chemoponics (a type of hydroponics) conditions on a coconut substrate. The zoocompost obtained from the excrement of larvae grown on wheat bran was characterized by a high content of organic matter (82.8 %), nitrogen (1.8 %), phosphorus and potassium, as well as the presence of humic acids (9.8 %) and beneficial microflora (mainly Bacillus spp.). The initial 10 % suspension was extracted with water or potassium hydroxide, then diluted to concentrations of 0.01–8.0 % and applied as a single root dressing. Filtered water served as a control. The results showed that both types of extracts significantly (p < 0.001) stimulated plant growth: at concentrations of 3.0–5.0 %, the shoot weight increased by 160% relative to the control, inflorescence formation accelerated (by 8–10 days), the number of buds increased (up to 16 pcs. versus 8 in the control) and their total mass. A concentration of 1.0 % was recognized as optimal for improving decorative qualities (flower diameter up to 6.2 cm). The alkaline extract demonstrated more predictable efficiency (r = 0.89–0.91 for the relationship between concentration and shoot and inflorescence weight). Concentrations above 5.0% inhibited flowering, reducing the flower diameter to control values (3.5–4.0 cm).

1. Kozlova E.A., Ahmetova L.R., Vestnik landshaftnoj arhitektury, 2023, No. 34, pp. 27–29. (In Russ.)

2. Maksimenko N.V., Prohorov V.N., Vestnik Belorusskoj gosudarstvennoj sel’skohozyajstvennoj akademii, 2014, No. 4, pp. 112–114. (In Russ.)

3. Maksimenko N.V., Prohorov V.N., Vestnik Belorusskoj gosudarstvennoj sel’skohozyajstvennoj akademii, 2015, No. 1, pp. 55–58. (In Russ.)

4. Maksimenko N.V., Ovoshchevodstvo, 2019, No. 27, pp. 125–130. (In Russ.)

5. Park Y.J., Park S.-Y., Valan Arasu M., Al-Dhabi N.A., Ahn H.-g., Kim J.K., Park S.U., Accumulation of Carotenoids and Metabolic Profiling in Different Cultivars of Tagetes Flowers, Molecules, 2017, No. 22(2), pp. 313, DOI: 10.3390/molecules22020313.

6. Benea A., Ciobanu C., Cojocaru-Toma M., Ciobanu N., Determination of carotenoids in extracts from species of Tagetes and Calendula, Moldovan Medical Journal, 2020, No. 63(4), pp. 23–26, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4016806.

7. Saini R.K., Ahn H.-Y., Park G.-W., Shin J.-W., Lee J.-H., Yu J.-W., Song M.-H., Keum Y.-S., Lee J.-H., Quantitative Profiling of Carotenoids, Tocopherols, Phytosterols, and Fatty Acids in the Flower Petals of Ten Marigold (Tagetes spp. L.) Cultivars, Foods, 2023, No. 12, pp. 3549, DOI: 10.3390/foods12193549.

8. Pavelková P, Krmela A, Schulzová V., Determination of carotenoids in flowers and food supplements by HPLC-DAD, Acta Chimica Slovaca, 2020, No. 13(1), pp. 6–12, DOI: 10.2478/acs-2020-0002.38.

9. Riaz M., Ahmad R., Rahman N.U., Khan Z., Dou D., Sechel G., Manea R., Traditional uses, Phyto-chemistry and pharmacological activities of Tagetes Patula L., Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2020, No. 255, pp. 112718, DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.112718.

10. Faraz T., Rizwani G.H., Hina B., Sharif H., Pharmacognostic, Antimicrobial and Toxicological Studies of a Seasonal Medicinal Plant; Tagetes Patula L., Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Science, 2020, Vol. 8(4), pp. 242–247, DOI: 10.37962/jpps.v8i4.480.

11. Singh R.K., Arif M., Mistry S., Srivastava M., Wasim R., Kushwaha S.P., Soni P., Pharmacognostical and Phytopharmacological Study of Tagetes Patula L., Journal of Chemical Health Risks, 2025, Vol. 15(3), pp. 241–249.

12. Volgin V.V., Potapova N.V., Smolin N.V., Vestnik Altajskogo gosudarstvennogo agrarnogo universiteta, 2020, No. 8(190), pp. 43–50. (In Russ.)

13. Miceli A., Moncada A., Vetrano F., Esposito A., Response of Tagetes patula L. and Ageratum houstonianum Mill. to Microbial Biostimulant Inoculation and Organic Fertilization, Agronomy, 2023, Vol. 13(10), pp. 2522, DOI: 10.3390/agronomy13102522.

14. Kurkin V.A., Savel’eva A.E., Kurkina A.V., Himiya rastitel’nogo syr’ya, 2022, No. 4, pp. 221–231, DOI: 10.14258/jcprm.2022049243. (In Russ.)

15. Pendyurin E.A., Rybina S.Yu., Smolenskaya L.M., Agrarnaya nauka, 2020, Vol. 340(7), pp. 106–110, DOI: 10.32634/0869-8155-2020-340-7-106-110. (In Russ.)

16. Elissen H., van der Weide R., Gollenbeek L., Effects of Black Soldier Fly Frass on Plant and Soil Characteristics: A Literature Overview, Wageningen Plant Research, 2023, Vol. 527, pp. 913–996, DOI: 10.1874/587213.

17. Jalil N., Abdullah S., Ahmad I., Basri N., Mohamed Z., Decomposition of food waste from protein and carbohydrate sources by black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens L., Journal of Environmental Biology, 2021, Vol. 42, pp. 756– 761, DOI: 10.22438/jeb/42/3(SI)/JEB-04.

18. Beesigamukama D., Mochoge B., Korir N.K., Fiaboe K.K., Nakimbugwe D., Khamis F.M., Subramanian S., Wangu M.M., Dubois T., Ekesi S., Tanga C.M., Low-cost technology for recycling agro-industrial waste into nutrientrich organic fertilizer using black soldier fly, Waste Management, 2021, Vol. 119, pp. 183–194, DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.09.043.

19. Pendyurin E.A., Zdorovcov V.A., Rybina S.Yu. [i dr.], Agrohimicheskij vestnik, 2024, No. 3. pp. 59–62, DOI: 10.24412/1029- 2551-2024-3-010. (In Russ.)

20. Beesigamukama D., Mochoge B., Korir N., Menale K., Muriithi B., Kidoido M., Kirscht H., Diiro G., Ghemoh C.J., Sevgan S., Nakimbugwe D., Economic and ecological values of frass fertiliser from black soldier fly agro-industrial waste processing, Journal of Insects as Food and Feed, 2022, Vol. 8(3), pp. 245–254, DOI: 10.3920/JIFF2021.0013.

21. Lopes I.G., Yong J.W., Lalander C., Frass derived from black soldier fly larvae treatment of biodegradable wastes. A critical review and future perspectives, Waste Management, 2022, No. 142, pp. 65–76, DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.02.007.

22. Basri N.E.A., Azman N.A., Ahmad I.K., Suja F., Jalil N.A.A., Amrul N.F., Potential applications of frass derived from black soldier fly larvae treatment of food waste: A review, Foods, 2022, No. 11(17), pp. 2664, DOI: 10.3390/foods11172664.

23. Gärttling D., Schulz H., Compilation of black soldier fly frass analyses, Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 2022, No. 22, pp. 1–7, DOI: 10.1007/s42729-021-00703-w.

24. Green T.R., Popa R., Enhanced ammonia content in compost leachate processed by black soldier fly larvae, Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2012, No. 166, pp. 1381–1387, DOI: 10.1007/s12010-011-9530-6.

25. Sarpong D.E., Oduro-Kwarteng S., Gyasi S.F., Buamah R., Donkor E., Awuah E., Baah M.K., Biodegradation by composting of municipal organic solid waste into organic fertilizer using the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae, International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture, 2019, No. 8, pp. 45–54, DOI: 10.1007/s40093-019-0268-4.

26. Schmitt E., de Vries W., Potential benefits of using Hermetia illucens frass as a soil amendment on food production and for environmental impact reduction, Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 2020, Vol. 25, 100335, DOI: 10.1016/j.cogsc.2020.03.005.

27. Surendra K., Tomberlin J.K., van Huis A., Cammack J.A., Heckmann L.- H.L., Khanal S.K., Rethinking organic wastes bioconversion: Evaluating the potential of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.)) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) (BSF), Waste management, 2020, No. 117, pp. 58–80, DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2020.07.050.

28. impacts growth and macronutrient composition of Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae produced at an industrial scale, Scientific Reports, 2020, No. 10, pp. 19448, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76571-8.

29. Zhang Y., Meng Z., Li S., Liu T., Song J., Li J., Zhang X., Two Antimicrobial Peptides Derived from Bacillus and Their Properties, Molecules, 2023, No. 28, pp. 7899, DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237899.

30. Puan S.L., Erriah P., Baharudin M.M.A., Yahaya N.M., Kamil W.N.I.W.A., Ali M.S.M., Ahmad S.A., Oslan S.N., Lim S., Sabri S., Antimicrobial peptides from Bacillus spp. and strategies to enhance their yield, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2023, Vol. 107, pp. 5569–5593, DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12651-9.

31. Choyam S., Jain P.M., Kammara R., Characterization of a Potent New-Generation Antimicrobial Peptide of Bacillus, Frontiers in Microbiology, 2021, No. 12, pp. 710741, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.710741.

32. Chan K.V., Pakina E.N., Ha K.V., Dal’nevostochnyj agrarnyj vestnik, 2024, No. 2, pp. 80–88, DOI: 10.22450/1999-6837-2024-18-2-80-88.

33. Sumi C.D., Yang B.W., YeoIn-Cheol, Hahm Y.T., Antimicrobial peptides of the genus Bacillus: a new era for antibiotics, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 2015, No. 61(2), pp. 93–103, DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2014-0613.

34. Poveda J., González-Andrés F., Bacillus as a source of phytohormones for use in agriculture, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2021, No. 105, pp. 8629–8645.

35. Siddiqui S.A., Gadge A.S., Hasan, M., Rahayu T., Povetkin S.N., Fernando I., Castro-Muñoz R., Future opportunities for products derived from black soldier fly (BSF) treatment as animal feed and fertilizer - A systematic review, Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2024, No. 26, pp. 30273–30354, DOI: 10.1007/s10668-024-04673-8.

36. Kyriacou M.C., El-Nakhel C., Pannico A., Graziani G., Soteriou G.A., Giordano M., Palladino M., Ritieni A., De Pascale S., Rouphael Y., Phenolic Constitution, Phytochemical and Macronutrient Content in Three Species of Microgreens as Modulated by Natural Fiber and Synthetic Substrates, Antioxidants, 2020, Vol. 9(3), Article 252, DOI: 10.3390/antiox9030252.

37. Loskutov S.I., Puhalsky J.V., Rumyanceva O.A. [i dr.], Vestnik rossijskoj sel’skohozyajstvennoj nauki, 2025, No. 4, pp. 22–38. (In Russ.)

38. Shinkarev S.M., Aksenov S.I., Tarasov S.I., Plodorodie, 2008, No. 4, pp. 17–18. (In Russ.)

39. Romano N., Fischer H., Powell A., Sinha A.K., Islam S., Deb U., Francis S., Applications of Black Solider Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Frass on Sweetpotato Slip Production, Mineral Content and Benefit-Cost Analysis, Agronomy, 2022, Vol. 12(4), 928, DOI: 10.3390/agronomy12040928.

40. Romano N., Powell A., Islam S., Fischer H., Renukdas N., Sinha A.K., Francis S., Supplementing aquaponics with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae frass tea: effects on the production and composition of sweet potato slips and sweet banana peppers, Aquaculture, 2022, No. 555, pp. 738160, DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2022.738160.

41. Frimpong K.A., Phares C.A., Boateng I., Abban-Baidoo E., Apuri L., One-time application of biochar influenced crop yield across three cropping cycles on tropical sandy loam soil in Ghana, Heliyon, 2021, No. 7, e06267, DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06267.

42. Beeby J., Moore S., Taylor L., Nderitu S., Effects of a One-Time Organic Fertilizer Application on Long-Term Crop and Residue Yields, and Soil Quality Measurements Using Biointensive Agriculture, Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2020, No. 4, pp. 67, DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2020.00067.

43. Das N., Islam M.S., Kashem M.A., Osnan K.T., Influence of One-Time Application of Vermicompost and NPK Fertilizers on the Growths and Mineral Nutrients of Indian Spinach (Basella alba L.), Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 2022, No. 22, pp. 2307–2321, DOI: 10.1007/s42729-022-00810-2.

44. Wijitkosum S., Sriburi T., Toonsiri P., Effect of One-Time Application of Biochar and Compost on Soil and Maize During 5-Time Consecutive Periods of Crop Cultivation, Emerging Science Journal, 2025, Vol. 9(1), pp. 114–130, DOI: 10.28991/ESJ-2025-09-01-07.

45. Song S., Ee A.W.L., Tan J.K.N., Cheong J.C., Chiam Z., Arora S., Lam W.N., Tan H.T.W., Upcycling food waste using black soldier fly larvae: Effects of further composting on frass quality, fertilising effect and its global warming potential, Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020, No. 288, pp. 125664, DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125664.

46. Gostishchev I.A., Tret’yakov M.Yu., Anisimovich I.P. [i dr.], Nauchnye vedomosti Belgorodskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Estestvennye nauki, 2010, No. 15 (86), pp. 140–144. (In Russ.)

47. Lapshova M.S., Dejneka V.I., Dejneka L.A. [i dr.], Zhurnal analiticheskoj himii, 2013, Vol. 68, No. 11, pp. 1130–1136, DOI: 10.7868/S0044450213110078. (In Russ.)

48. Shishkina A.A., Mezhdunarodnyj zhurnal prikladnyh i fundamental’nyh issledovanij, 2012, No. 1-1, pp. 164–165. (In Russ.)

49. Bi G., Evans W.B., Spiers J.M., Witcher A.L., Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Marigold Growth and Flowering, HortScience, 2010, No. 45, pp. 1373–1377, DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.45.9.1373.