This study aimed to provide information on the role of Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae in insect farms by evaluating their environmental control ability (decomposition rate and ammonia production) when added to laying hens’ manure. Treatments were rand...
This study aimed to provide information on the role of Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae in insect farms by evaluating their environmental control ability (decomposition rate and ammonia production) when added to laying hens’ manure. Treatments were randomly allocated into two groups, each consisting of 20 g of 4th (Group 1) or 5th (Group 2) instar TM larvae reared on 200 g of laying hens’manure. Each group had three replicates. First, the group with 4th instar TM larvae showed a slightly higher decomposition ability in laying hens’ manure compared to the 5th instar group at 15 days, although the difference was not substantial. Second, ammonia production in the 4th instar TM larvae group at 10 and 15 days was reduced by 30% and 60%, respectively. In conclusion, the addition of 4th instar TM larvae to laying hens’ manure reduced ammonia production; however, both the 4th and 5th instar showed relatively low decomposition ability in laying hens’ manure.