Growth of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) Larvae Fed with Various Agriwastes

Abstract

This study evaluated the growth performance of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) fed with different agricultural wastes—banana stem (BS) and rice straw (RS)—under varying larval densities (20g, 30g, and 40g per 250g substrate). The experiment followed a 2×3 factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Key parameters measured included larval growth rate (GR), waste reduction index (WRI), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), and economic viability.

Results showed that BSFL fed with banana stem exhibited the highest growth rate (0.67g/larva) at the lowest density (20g), while rice straw supported more stable growth at higher densities (40g). Rice straw demonstrated superior waste reduction (WRI = 3.06) compared to banana stem (WRI = 2.25), indicating better bioconversion efficiency. Feed efficiency was highest in rice straw (ECI = 3.33) at 20g larval density, whereas banana stem yielded higher profitability, with a return on investment (ROI) of 67.31% at 40g density.

The study concludes that banana stem is optimal for maximizing BSFL growth at lower densities, while rice straw is more effective for waste reduction and feed efficiency. These findings provide valuable insights for sustainable agriwaste management and BSFL farming, highlighting the economic potential of utilizing locally available agricultural byproducts.