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Agronomy
Volume 15
Issue 10
10.3390/agronomy15102324
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Optimizing Winter Composting of Swine Manure Through Housefly Larva Bioconversion: Mechanisms of Protein Recovery and Enzymatic Nitrogen Regulation

by
Nanyang Lu
1,2,
Yanlai Yao
2,
Chunlai Hong
2,
Weijing Zhu
2,
Leidong Hong
2,
Tao Zhang
2,
Rui Guo
2,
Chengrong Ding
1,
Ying Zhou
1,* and
Fengxiang Zhu
2,*
1
College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
2
Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agronomy 2025, 15(10), 2324; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102324
Submission received: 20 August 2025 / Revised: 27 September 2025 / Accepted: 29 September 2025 / Published: 30 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Sustainable manure recycling in cold climates faces low efficiency and nutrient loss. This study evaluated housefly larva-pretreated manure (HL) for winter swine manure composting in East China, comparing it to sawdust-conditioned (CK2) and untreated manure (CK1). Larval pretreatment converted 12.71% of manure weight into biomass, assimilating 10.69% C, 30.55% N, 8.54% P, and 11.53% K. Harvested larvae contained 53.35% crude protein, with amino acids matching/exceeding fishmeal and soybean meal, while heavy metals were below safety limits. Theoretical annual larval protein yield per unit area (29,530 kg·mu−1·year−1) was 206.5 times higher than soybean crops. During composting, the HL treatment promoted early protease and catalase activation. This enzymatic synergy accelerated organic matter degradation and maturation, achieving a germination index of 147.67% by day 51. Coordinated nitrate and nitrite reductase activity in HL facilitated efficient denitrification, minimizing NO2− accumulation and N2O emissions. Consequently, HL composting achieved faster stabilization, enhanced nutrient retention, and greater protein recovery compared to controls. These findings demonstrate that housefly larval pretreatment offers a climate-resilient and scalable strategy for winter manure management and protein valorization, with strong potential for applications in cold and resource-limited agricultural systems worldwide.
Keywords: housefly larval; winter; protein yield; essential amino acids; nitrogen retention; influence factor housefly larval; winter; protein yield; essential amino acids; nitrogen retention; influence factor

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Lu, N.; Yao, Y.; Hong, C.; Zhu, W.; Hong, L.; Zhang, T.; Guo, R.; Ding, C.; Zhou, Y.; Zhu, F. Optimizing Winter Composting of Swine Manure Through Housefly Larva Bioconversion: Mechanisms of Protein Recovery and Enzymatic Nitrogen Regulation. Agronomy 2025, 15, 2324. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102324

AMA Style

Lu N, Yao Y, Hong C, Zhu W, Hong L, Zhang T, Guo R, Ding C, Zhou Y, Zhu F. Optimizing Winter Composting of Swine Manure Through Housefly Larva Bioconversion: Mechanisms of Protein Recovery and Enzymatic Nitrogen Regulation. Agronomy. 2025; 15(10):2324. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102324

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lu, Nanyang, Yanlai Yao, Chunlai Hong, Weijing Zhu, Leidong Hong, Tao Zhang, Rui Guo, Chengrong Ding, Ying Zhou, and Fengxiang Zhu. 2025. "Optimizing Winter Composting of Swine Manure Through Housefly Larva Bioconversion: Mechanisms of Protein Recovery and Enzymatic Nitrogen Regulation" Agronomy 15, no. 10: 2324. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102324

APA Style

Lu, N., Yao, Y., Hong, C., Zhu, W., Hong, L., Zhang, T., Guo, R., Ding, C., Zhou, Y., & Zhu, F. (2025). Optimizing Winter Composting of Swine Manure Through Housefly Larva Bioconversion: Mechanisms of Protein Recovery and Enzymatic Nitrogen Regulation. Agronomy, 15(10), 2324. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102324

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