Shop Frass
Evidence library
Explore ten peer-reviewed studies plus five on-the-ground programs that document how BSFL frass performs in vegetables, turf, tree nurseries, and modern CEA systems.
Peer-reviewed evidence
The library below tracks ten experiments that quantify yield, nitrogen efficiency, microbiome shifts, and tree-restoration outcomes, plus five industry programs translating the science into practice.
These open-access papers span field cereals, greenhouse herbs, hemp, tree nurseries, and soil ecology. Click through for full methods and statistics.
Wageningen University PhD, 2023
Wantulla showed that BSF frass and exuviae only suppressed Delia radicum when they primed resident Pseudomonas communities; efficacy and larval mortality were soil-type specific yet achieved without compromising cabbage biomass.
Read dissertationbioRxiv, 2023
Green et al. found winter wheat shoots were 11% taller and heavier after frass drenches even though the material contained only trace N:P:K. Enterococcus species were traced from larval guts into the rhizosphere as the likely plant-growth trigger.
Read studyInsects (MDPI), 2021
Borkent & Hodge measured up to 25% more shoot dry weight across herbs and vegetables when 3 g/pot of BSF frass was mixed into organic media, matching chicken manure pellets but stalling at higher doses.
Read studyHeliyon, 2021
Menino et al. ran seven BSF frass rates and saw total ryegrass fresh weight climb from 42 g/pot in the control to 62 g/pot at 150 kg N ha−1, alongside higher soil P, K, and dehydrogenase activity.
Read studyJ. Insects as Food & Feed, 2022
Treating greenhouse maize with BSF frass boosted grain yield by 2–25% over NPK or brewer’s grain compost and raised net income 163% when frass was paired 50:50 with mineral N.
Read studyFrontiers in Plant Science, 2020
Beesigamukama et al. reported that 7.5 t/ha of BSF frass produced 14% more maize grain than a commercial organic fertiliser and 7% more than urea, while increasing N uptake by 76% and doubling agronomic N-use efficiency.
Read studyAgronomy (MDPI), 2020
Klammsteiner et al. showed frass matched NH4NO3 for ryegrass production, increased nitrate and dissolved N, and did not elevate coliform counts after soil incorporation.
Read studyFrontiers in Microbiology, 2022
Fuhrmann et al. tracked Rwandan grass–clover pots and saw BSF residues lift plant yield 17% and basal respiration 16% over controls while enriching Bacillus and Mortierella populations.
Read studySustainability (MDPI), 2025
Malagasy trials found half- and single-rate BSF frass doubled Dodonaea height growth and kept survival at 95%, whereas NPK cut survival to 5%; overdosing (2× rate) was lethal, underscoring the need for calibrated applications.
Read studyInsects (MDPI), 2025
Kavanagh et al. evaluated six monoecious and dioecious hemp cultivars and found low HexaFrass™ doses (3 g/pot) increased shoot growth in both male and female plants with no marginal gains at higher rates, mirroring other organic fertilisers.
Read studyPrograms below show how BSFL frass is being commercialised in North America and Africa—from broiler feed safety to urban microgreen substrates and tree nurseries.
Trial snapshots
Translate the studies above into clear agronomy talking points for crews, retailers, or funding partners.
Field maize responded best to 2.5–7.5 t/ha of frass, with the 7.5 t/ha rate adding 14% grain and +76% N uptake over urea; pairing lower rates 1:1 with mineral N kept ROI positive.
Greenhouse herbs, lettuce, and hemp all peaked when 3 g/pot (≈5% of media) of HexaFrass™ was blended into peat mixes; higher doses plateaued or suppressed growth, so keep additions light.
Malagasy reforestation nurseries doubled Dodonaea height growth and held 95% survival with half- and single-rate frass (0.325–0.65 g N/plant); synthetic NPK dropped survival to 5%.
BSF residues increased basal respiration 16%, plant yield 17%, and encouraged Bacillus/Mortierella populations while matched NH4NO3 for ryegrass yields—evidence that frass feeds microbes before plants.
Downloads & links
These resources pair well with the studies above when pitching clients or writing grant proposals.
We collaborate with universities and private labs to design plots, capture microbial data, and translate findings into SOPs.