Insect Frass Composition Across Species and U.S. and Canadian Sources

Physiochemical composition data for insect frass samples from multiple species and geographic origins. The dataset includes measurements of pH, electrical conductivity, inorganic nitrogen forms, moisture content, total carbon and nitrogen, and total metals. Data were generated using standardized laboratory protocols at the USDA ARS Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit.

Use Cases

• Evaluating the suitability of insect frass as a soil amendment based on nutrient and contaminant profiles.
• Assessing nutrient supply potential from various insect species and rearing conditions.
• Examining variability in frass composition driven by insect species, geographic origin, and processing methods like heat treatment.

Strengths

• Analysis includes a wide range of chemical properties: pH, EC, inorganic N, moisture, total C/N, and 21 total metals.
• Data were generated using standardized laboratory analytical protocols to ensure comparability.
• Samples are grouped by insect species, geographic origin, and treatment condition, allowing for comparative analysis.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the collection from producers in the U.S. and Canada.

Provenance

Source

USDA ARS Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, Agricultural Waste Management laboratory led by Dr. Amanda Ashworth.

Collection Method

Frass samples were shipped from various producers and analyzed using standardized laboratory protocols.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-01 19:16:23; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Samples collected across multiple U.S. states and Canada.