Uncomposted Wool and Hair‐Wastes as Soil Amendments for High‐Value Crops

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Abstract
The hypothesis of this work was that uncomposted sheep wool and human hair could be used as nutrient source for nonedible high‐value plants. Pot and field experiments were conducted to assess uncomposted sheep wool‐wastes and human hair‐wastes as a nutrient source for high‐value crops and to evaluate the effect of these waste materials on soil microbial community and mycorrhizae. In the pot experiments, addition of uncomposted wool‐ or hair‐waste to soil increased yields from pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) and valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.). In the field experiment, wool‐waste was added to purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.) at rates of 0, 15.8, and 31.7 t ha−1. Wool additions to soil increased foxglove yields over the next two seasons by 1.7 to 3.5 times relative to the control. Overall, addition of wool‐ or hair‐waste to soil increased NH4–N and NO3–N in soil, increased total N (and protein) concentration in plant tissue, and stimulated soil microbial biomass. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x‐ray (EDX) analyses indicated that some of wool and hair in soil from the pot and field experiments, after two seasons and several harvests, retained their original structure, a significant concentration of S, some N, and were not fully decomposed. High rates of wool addition to soil in field experiments resulted in shifts in the microbial community composition, while a low rate of wool‐waste addition did not affect the microbial community relative to the unamended control. Our results suggest that the addition of uncomposted wool‐waste or hair‐waste of only 0.33% by weight to soil would support at least 2 to 3 harvests of crops, without the addition of other fertilizers. Uncomposted wool and hair‐wastes can be used as a nutrient source for high‐value crops.
Funding Information
  • Nova Scotia (NS) Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Technology Development (DEV21-063)
  • Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food
  • NS AgriFutures (#190)
  • Purebred Sheep Association of NS
  • NS Wool Marketing Board

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