Sheep wool and leather waste as fertilizers in organic production of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Abstract

Sheep's wool and leather shavings tanned without chromium (III) salts would be suitable for fertilization in organic farming, where is the lack of easily accessible fertilizer nitrogen. This hypothesis was tested in a two-year field experiment growing asparagus at Rogelj organic farm in Kranj (Slovenia). The block designed experiment with three replicates comprised fertilization treatments with sheep's wool (W), leather shavings (L), cattle manure (FYM) and unfertilized (Ø). Doses of fertilizers were relevant to 0 (Ø), 140 (W1, L1), 280 (W2, L2, FYM) and 560 kg (W3, L3) N/ha. Fertilizers were dosed the first year before the start of the vegetation. Within the next year we followed their subsequent effect. The highest soil mineral N was found in the W2, which produced also the highest asparagus yield (non-significant) in the first year. On contrary, NO3-N content in the asparagus crop was small what reflects the good synchrony of N mineralization and consumption of N at W2. Treatments W and L released significantly more N in the next year than the same dose of nitrogen from FYM. The experiment showed that mainly sheep wool represents a quality alternative organic fertilizer.

Keywords

• horticulture
• asparagus
• leather waste
• sheep wool
• organic fertilizers
• nitrogen