Researchers at the Federal Research Center "Foundations of Biotechnology" of the Russian Academy of Sciences have obtained a plant growth stimulant from sheep's wool.
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In experiments on radishes, this stimulant led to an increase in root and stem mass, as well as a rise in pigment content in the leaves. The results of the study were published in the journal "Biochemistry and Applied Microbiology".
The secret to this innovation lies in keratin, a tough protein that makes up the wool, feathers, and hair of vertebrates. It was heated in water under pressure, then broken down by enzymes into peptides and amino acids that can be absorbed by plants.
The researchers compared six locally produced enzyme preparations: penicillopepsin, protosoptylin, keratinase, protozyme, protozyme H, and protozyme C. They evaluated the effect of the treated keratin on the growth of the roots and aerial parts of radishes, as well as on the pigment content of the leaves. Radishes were chosen because of their rapid seed germination and the fact that they are grown as microgreens.
Protezyme C showed the best results. After adding the product obtained with its help from heat-treated sheep wool with water, the mass of the roots increased by 57–68%, the stems by 45–83%, and the length of the aerial part by 30–70%.
This approach could help in recycling farm and poultry plant waste and turning it into composting materials.
So far, it has only been tested on radishes. Scientists plan to later study the product's effect on soil microorganisms.
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