Assessment of Two Sheep Wool Residues from Textile Industry as Organic Fertilizer in Sunflower and Maize Cultivation

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural practices that enhance soil fertility and increase its capacity for carbon sequestration are increasingly needed. This study evaluates two types of sheep wool residues (SWRs)-carbonized (black wool, BW) and non-carbonized (white wool, WW) to enhance soil fertility and act as a N-source. The two SWRs were tested on two plant species, in two pot experiments: ornamental sunflower on soil mixtures with each of SWR types at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 2% w/w), and maize on BW-or WW-soil mixture (1% w/w) and supplementary N fertilization (0, 50, and 100% of recommended N rates). In sunflower, with the exception of WW at 2%, all SWRs-soil mixtures increased plant growth and biomass production. Lower SWRs concentrations enhanced the growth rate at an initial stage, and in general, BW provided optimal biomass, and flower yield. In maize, the SWRs (1%), especially BW, even without N-fertilization, were beneficial for plant physiological behavior and biomass production. High mineral N-fertilization (100% N with BW1%-or WW1%-soil mixture) resulted in lower biomass than the other BW-treatments. The results highlighted the efficacy of BW on biomass production for both species growing in a sandy-loam soil, and for maize, no need for further mineral N-fertilization.

Impact of sheep wool residues as soil amendments on olive beneficial symbionts and bacterial diversity

“…Here, olive shoot diameters were significantly influenced by WW, although growth responses depended on the concentration. Our results are in agreement with those obtained with different plant species, such as basil, thorn apple, broccoli, cluster bean, garden sage, maize, marigold, peppermint, ryegrass, sunflower, tomato, valerian, wheat and Swiss chard (Zheljazkov 2005 ; Nustorova et al 2006 ; Zheljazkov et al 2008 , 2009 ; Gogos et al 2013 ; Suruchi et al 2014 ; Ordiales et al 2016 ; Abdallah et al 2019b ). Such effects have been ascribed to the protein keratin, the main component of sheep wool, whose slow degradation in the soil releases, beyond carbon (ca.…”

“…Neither the two SWR types nor their different doses applied to soil affected the activity of native AMF, as assessed by the MIP bioassay, while mycorrhizal colonization was decreased by 2% BW soil amendments. Our data on soil bacteria and AMF, that represent key factors of biological soil fertility, complement previous findings on the beneficial effect of SWR on soil properties, such as moisture retention, reduction of soil bulk density and increase of total porosity and aggregate stability (Zoccola et al 2015 ; Abdallah et al 2019b ).…”

“…However, several studies have been carried out on the utilization of sheep wool waste or wool residues in agriculture, aimed at testing their beneficial effects on soil properties and crop productivity, as well as improving the environmental sustainability of sheep wool supply chain. Actually, both wool residues, wood pellets and hydrolyzed wool waste were reported to stimulate plant growth and nutrition in different plant species, such as basil, thorn apple, broccoli, cluster bean, garden sage, maize, marigold, peppermint, ryegrass, sunflower, tomato, valerian, wheat and Swiss chard (Zheljazkov 2005 ; Nustorova et al 2006 ; Zheljazkov et al 2008 , 2009 ; Gogos et al 2013 ; Suruchi et al 2014 ; Ordiales et al 2016 ; Abdallah et al 2019b ). Moreover, recent studies reported that wool residues were able to enhance the physical and hydraulic properties of soils, by absorbing and retaining moisture, reducing soil bulk density and increasing total porosity and aggregate stability (Zoccola et al 2015 ; Abdallah et al 2019a ).…”

Surface morphology and physical properties of sheep wool of selected Polish breeds

“…In this situation in recent years, several ideas of processing local wool with various unconventional techniques or using it in unusual way have been examined. For this purpose, several studies on using wool products in civil engineering as soil reinforcement and erosion protection [Hejazi et al 2012, Broda et al 2018, in agriculture as fertilizers [Zheljazkov et al 2009, Zoccola et al 2015, Abdallah et al 2019 as well in the construction industry as thermal and acoustic insulating materials [Corscaden et al 2014, Broda and Bączek 2020] were performed. Moreover, a few research projects on using local wool were implemented.…”

Special Organic Fertilizer for Improving Soil Fertilization and Xerophyte Haloxylon ammodendron Growth in the Nursery and Afforestation in Desert Regions of China

“…Nutrients play specific roles in plant physiological response, growth and development, system evolution, and ecosystem function, etc. (Du et al 2011;Abdallah et al 2019;Cuevas and Quiroz 2019). After the completion of the plant life cycle, nutrients will be returned to the soil through decomposition, and will be absorbed and utilized by plants again to realize the biogeochemical cycle of elements (Cabeza et al 2019;Hui et al 2019).…”