Beneficial effects of dog fur as a potting soil component
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Commercial potting soil mixes are typically dominated by peat moss, a nonrenewable resource. Here, we explore the potential of a novel alternative growth medium: dog fur waste collected from retail grooming salons. We evaluated three common container-grown crops (basil, lettuce, and marigold) and found that all three exhibited substantially improved growth when a standard potting mix was amended with dog fur (25% or 50% by volume). These surprising effects encompassed multiple response variables, including both vegetative and reproductive structures. Our results suggest that dog fur has potential for a wide range of applications spanning both edible and ornamental plant production.
Source: PubMed
Authors: Zoe A Long, Benjamin S Ramage
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7106336390
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