Housefly Larvae (<i>Musca domestica</i>) Vermicompost on Soil Biochemical Features for a Chrysanthemum (<i>Chrysanthemum morifolium</i>) Farm
Zhijian Zhang, Xian-Zhe Wang, Hang Wang, En Huang, Jian-Lin Sheng, Lin-Qiang Zhou, Wei‐Zheng Jin
Abstract
The housefly larvae (Musca domestica) vermireactor is capable of highly efficient waste reduction for swine manure management; however, effectiveness of larvae-vermicompost land utilization and the associated impact on soil environment are poorly understood. This study, which integrated incubation pot experiments and field plot tests on a chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) farm, was designed to investigate soil biochemical and microbial functions in response to inorganic fertilizer (NPK), vermicompost (VC) application, and/or combination of inorganic fertilizer and vermicompost (I + V). Pot experiments indicated that available soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were significantly higher (21%-43%, 206%-306%, and 35%-36%, respectively) with VC treatment compared to NPK treatment; meanwhile, soil organic carbon (C), N and P mineralization was increased by 46%-57%, 53%-70%, and 30%-113%, respectively. Vermicompost application increased soil highly labile organic C by 19% to 42%. Vermicompost also enhanced soil enzymatic activities: 37%-68% for dehydrogenase, 22%-107% for urease, and 3.4%-56% for phosphatases, but activities of soil β-1,4-glucosidase and β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase were reduced by 17%-53% and 24%-42%, respectively. Compared to pot experiment, continuous land application of vermicompost overwhelmingly caused soil nutrient accumulation, increased soil C stock and microbial biomass, enhanced soil mineralization, and improved C-, N-, and P-related enzymatic activities. Co-inertia analysis indicated that soil fertility indices positively correlated with most microbiological indices. This work reveals VC as a new biofertilizer for crop production and highlights its merit on soil health improvement.