Vegetable growers are facing increasing fertilizer costs, declining soil health, and challenges in maintaining profitable crop production

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $299,999 to Alcorn State University on September 1, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI, CFDA 10.310) to examine black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) compost and biochar as soil amendments for vegetable production.

The project will evaluate nutrient transformations during BSFL composting using cow and poultry manure with and without biochar additions through laboratory incubation studies tracking carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus release and transformation. Field studies will assess the effects of these amendments on soil properties, nutrient dynamics, microbial communities, and the production of mustard greens and kale. Soil chemical, physical, and biological measurements will clarify processes affecting nutrient availability and plant growth. Results will help vegetable growers make informed nutrient management decisions, improve soil productivity, and enhance farm profitability while reducing dependence on commercial fertilizers and addressing soil health decline.

Performance runs through August 31, 2028, at Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. The award is classified as a Project Grant. AFRI supports research, education, extension, and integrated grants across six farm bill priority areas including Plant Health and Production; the program was reauthorized at $700 million annually and received $435 million in FY 2026 appropriations.

This project will examine the use of black soldier fly larvae (bsfl) compost and biochar as soil amendments to improve nutrient availability and crop performance in vegetable production systems. Bsfl composting rapidly converts organic materials such as COW and poultry manure into nutrient-rich products, while biochar may help retain nutrients in the soil and improve soil properties. The project will investigate how these materials influence nutrient transformations, soil biological activity, and crop growth. The project will evaluate nutrient transformations during bsfl composting using COW and poultry manure with and without biochar additions. Field studies will assess the effects of these amendments on soil properties, nutrient dynamics, microbial communities, and the production of mustard greens and kale. Laboratory incubation studies will further investigate how carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are released and transformed after amendment application. Soil chemical, physical, and biological measurements will be used to better understand processes that affect nutrient availability and plant growth.results from this research will provide information that can help growers make informed nutrient management decisions, improve soil productivity, and enhance farm profitability. The project will also generate new knowledge on nutrient cycling and soil processes associated with bsfl compost and biochar applications