Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
The low efficiency of fertilizer utilization has resulted in resource waste and environmental pollution, therefore, developing effective alternative organomineral fertilizers (OF) has become essential. Waste sheep wool (SW) was used as an organic material to develop an OF, and its effects on plants and soil were compared with diammonium phosphate (DAP). Sheep wool was first hydrolyzed with KOH, and the hydrolysate was then neutralized with H3PO4 to obtain an OF (W-NPK). Before the experiment, W-NPK was characterized using Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Maize and sunflower plants were grown under four treatments: control, DAP, W-NPK, and a half dose of W-NPK. To determine the residual effects, maize was then grown in the same pots without further fertilization. W-NPK showed a heterogeneous structure, containing both granular and crystalline inorganic particles within an organic matrix. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and XRD analyses confirmed distinct functional groups and crystalline phases. Across all cropping cycles, W-NPK at both doses performed as well as or better than DAP in increasing plant dry weight. Residual effect of W-NPK was especially clear in the second maize, where it outperformed DAP. Although N and K concentrations decreased due to dilution effect, N, P, and K uptake increased under all fertilizer treatments. W-NPK resulted in higher P concentration and higher K uptake than DAP. Soils treated with W-NPK showed higher N, plant available P and K in most cases. W-NPK is a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional chemical fertilizers.