OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a novel sheep wool media amendment, produced by EcoWool Canada Inc. (EcoWool), on the health and growth of a variety of greenhouse-grown container crops.

CHALLENGE

As Canada’s sheep industry expands, the need for solutions to waste sheep’s wool is key. With a mission to initiate sustainability and support farmers by upcycling wool and fibre waste into valuable products, the company EcoWool was founded in 2021. This company was established in order to lead the way in collecting unused sheep wool from farmers and finding alternative uses for the wool.

Recently published research has explored the use of waste sheep wool as a viable media amendment when growing greenhouse crops in European countries, yet such studies have not been performed in North America. Waste sheep wool has been suggested as an eco-friendly replacement for peat moss, an important soil amendment particularly used by the horticulture industry to improve drainage and water retention. Further understanding of how to use Canadian waste wool as a media amendment in a greenhouse environment was necessary, along with the subsequent effect on plant growth and health.

SOLUTION

EcoWool required the experience of the Horticultural and Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC) team in the evaluation of sheep wool use in greenhouse crops, and potential use in the Canadian horticulture industry. The HESIC team at Niagara College carried out a research trial evaluating the potential use of EcoWool sheep wool pellets as a media amendment to grow basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Crispum’), strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Albion’), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Tiny Tim’) crops.

Incorporation of EcoWool pellets with greenhouse potting media increased pH and E.C. of the media, proportional to increasing pellet rate. In general, plants grown in media containing 5 g/L and 10 g/L EcoWool pellets/media performed better than the control. Increasing rates of EcoWool pellets over the rate of 10 g/L were found to have a negative impact on plant health, yield, and fruit quality. Media amended with EcoWool pellets required the addition of soluble fertilizers, as demonstrated by all measured growth parameters lagging in the pots which received no additional fertilizer. EcoWool pellets did appear to provide minor nutritional value to the plants, notably in the form of nitrogen, as measured in both soil and plant tissue analyses.

EcoWool has developed a process of processing the sheep wool, turning it into pellets for use in agriculture – whether it be home gardeners or commercial growers. Together with Niagara College, EcoWool is seeking to expand research and knowledge into the use of sheep wool in horticulture.

IMPACT

From this study, it is suggested that an ideal incorporation rate of EcoWool pellets is between five to 10 grams per litre of greenhouse potting media. While EcoWool pellets exhibit potential as an organic supplement for plant growth, they are unlikely to be a complete replacement for a typical fertilizer regime. In addition, commercial greenhouse crop production requires precise dosage of nutrients and sterile media, indicating that raw sheep wool has limited suitability in this sector. It does, however, possess potential as an amendment to be used concurrent to that of other fertilizers in either sustainable or organic field or nursery production, and backyard gardening.