{"id":3600,"date":"2026-03-14T09:43:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T09:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/?page_id=3600"},"modified":"2026-03-22T15:24:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T15:24:24","slug":"schapenwol-in-potgrond","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/schapenwol-in-potgrond\/","title":{"rendered":"Schapenwol in potgrond"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3600\" class=\"elementor elementor-3600\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ab1c2fe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ab1c2fe\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f67a958\" data-id=\"f67a958\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d65de2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d65de2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Sheep wool as a growing medium: opportunities for growers<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c27f41a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c27f41a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a975495\" data-id=\"a975495\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c98b69f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c98b69f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Written by Karin Bodewits, microbiologist (PhD) who is working on sustainable cultivation systems and peatlands.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-14f598c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"14f598c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae86cc6\" data-id=\"ae86cc6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb430f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cb430f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In recent years, increasing research has been conducted into the use of sheep\u2019s wool in soil and potting soil mixes. Various studies show that wool is not only a by-product, but also a useful soil improver and a natural source of nutrients for plants.<\/p><h4><strong>Table of contents\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4><ul><li><p><strong>Why wool can be interesting for plants<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Effect of wool on plant growth<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Better water management and less drought stress<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Sheep wool as a sustainable alternative to (mineral) fertilizer<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Effects on the soil life<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Practical applications: powder, pellets, or raw wool<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>From waste stream to a growing medium<\/strong><\/p><\/li><li><p><strong>Ethical considerations regarding the use of sheep wool<\/strong><\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9971b35\" data-id=\"9971b35\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6520a5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6520a5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/images\/placeholder.png\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3d51cb1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3d51cb1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4ec4550\" data-id=\"4ec4550\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfa0d0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bfa0d0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><b>Why wool can be interesting for plants<\/b><\/h4><p>Sheep wool consists largely of keratin, a protein rich in nitrogen. This nitrogen can be released as a nutrient for plants when the wool slowly breaks down. Additionally, wool can retain a lot of water: it can absorb up to about 3.5 times its own weight in moisture. As a result, it can help retain water longer in potting soil or the surrounding soil.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also other materials used to retain moisture in the soil, such as:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">biochar or coir (cocos fibre)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">walnut shells<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wood remnants<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">superabsorbing polymers<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">peat moss (sphagnum)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">compost<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">minerals such as vermiculite, bentonite and zeolite<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>The special thing about wool is that it can fulfill multiple functions at the same time:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it helps retain water in the soil<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it can gradually release nitrogen during decomposition.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">the slow release of nitrogen from wool waste, compared to the rapid release from mineral fertilizers, is beneficial from an environmental perspective. This is because it helps protect water sources from contamination with nitrogen compounds caused by rapid leaching.<\/li><\/ul><p>In addition, wool has the ability to slightly lower the pH of alkaline soils.<\/p><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><h4><b>Effect of wool on plant growth<\/b><\/h4><p>In a planting experiment in which wool was mixed into the substrate, it was found that plants grew significantly better than without wool. For instance, a single addition of wool yielded up to four harvests of Swiss chard and five harvests of basil. The total basil yield was 1.6 to 5 times higher than in the control without wool (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0956053X09000828\">LINK<\/a>).\u00a0<span style=\"font-style: inherit;\">This effect is primarily due to the fact that wool slowly releases nitrogen during decomposition. As a result, plants receive long-lasting nutrition without the need to constantly add fertilisers.<\/span><\/p><p>Research into fertilisers based on wool keratin shows that these substances can further stimulate plant growth. In a greenhouse trial with maize, the application of a wool keratin product led to:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">larger plants<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">larger leaf coverage<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">more chlorophyll in the leaf<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">approximately 32\u201334% more biomass than at the control<\/li><\/ul><p>Researchers explain this stronger growth by stating that wool not only supplies nitrogen, but also amino acids that help the plant with stress resistance and growth (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0301479724016347\">LINK<\/a>).<\/p><p>In another trial where wool waste was mixed into the soil, various crops also grew significantly better. In field and greenhouse trials with basil, peppermint, sage, and jimsonweed, among others, the addition of wool led to higher yields and stronger plants.<\/p><p>After the addition of wool, the soil contained more available nitrogen, primarily in the form of:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ammonium (NH\u2084-N)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nitrate (NO3-N)<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The total nitrogen content in the plant tissue also increased, which means that plants could absorb more nutrients (<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/16275732\/\">LINK<\/a>).<\/span><\/p><p>In addition, a clear increase in microbial biomass in the soil was observed in these trials. This means that soil life became more active, which often has a positive effect on the availability of nutrients for plants.<\/p><p>In an experiment in Poland, wool was used as a soil conditioner in the growing substrate for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/289907962_Utilization_of_Waste_Wool_as_Substrate_Amendment_in_Pot_Cultivation_of_Tomato_Sweet_Pepper_and_Eggplant\">LINK<\/a>). Wool (10 g per liter of substrate) was added to a 5 cm layer of substrate and then covered with the rest of the substrate, so that roots had to grow through the wool layer.<\/p><p>The addition of wool led to a significant increase in fruit production (approximately 30%) in tomatoes and peppers, while no significant effect was found in eggplants. Furthermore, the plants were taller and had a higher fresh weight.<\/p><p>Because the plants were grown on these substrates for a relatively short period, the wool was only partially broken down. As a result, a large portion of the wool remained as a nutrient reserve for the next season.<\/p><p>During research in Wageningen (<a href=\"https:\/\/research.wur.nl\/en\/projects\/wool-for-crop-resilience-20-kb-45-005-016\">LINK<\/a>) it was found that washed wool in the growing medium can improve the performance of strawberry plants, causing them to ripen faster. Additionally, both washed and unwashed wool appeared to increase the photosynthetic activity of garden cress and slow the spread of Pythium disease.<\/p><h4><b>Better water management and less drought stress<\/b><\/h4><p>Wool can retain a lot of water and therefore acts similarly to a moisture buffer or mulch layer in the soil.<\/p><p>In a study with bell peppers, it was found that wool mulch:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">made the water usage of plants more efficient<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">kept soil moisture more stable<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">increased the biological activity in the soil<\/li><\/ul><p>The effect was particularly evident with less frequent irrigation. Due to the moisture buffer provided by wool, plants were better able to cope with periods of drought.<\/p><p>For growers, this means that wool can help to:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">to reduce water loss from the soil<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">to keep the temperature in the root zone more stable<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">to make the root environment more active<\/li><\/ul><h4><b>Sheep wool as a sustainable alternative to (mineral) fertilizer<\/b><\/h4><p>In horticulture, commercial fertilizers are often used to grow plants. However, some of these fertilizers may contain small amounts of heavy metals, such as cadmium, mercury, and lead. Over time, these substances can accumulate in the soil and, in some cases, even end up in the crop.<\/p><p>Sheep wool works differently. When wool is incorporated into the soil, nitrogen is released slowly during the natural breakdown of the fibers. Research shows that this nitrogen is released primarily in forms that plants can readily absorb:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">nitrate (NO\u2083\u2013N)<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">ammonia (NH\u2084\u2013N)<\/li><\/ul><p>There is no evidence that wool forms harmful nitrogen compounds in the soil.<\/p><p>For growers, this means that wool can serve as a sustainable and natural food source for plants. When used wisely, wool can:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">improve the soil<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">gradually supply nitrogen to the plants<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">reduce the use of mineral fertilizer<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">in some cases can completely replace mineral fertilizer<\/li><\/ul><p>In this way, residual wool from sheep farming can be a practical and environmentally friendly addition to cultivation.<\/p><h4><b>Effects on the soil life<\/b><\/h4><p>Sheep wool can have a clear effect on soil life. In Wageningen (<a href=\"https:\/\/research.wur.nl\/en\/projects\/wool-for-crop-resilience-20-kb-45-005-016\">LINK<\/a>) bacteria and fungi with plant biostimulating properties were found in substrates enriched with washed wool.<\/p><p>Other studies also show that wool is not harmful to soil organisms and in many cases even stimulates the activity of microorganisms.<\/p><p>When wool is incorporated into the soil, the composition of the bacterial community changes because microorganisms begin to break down the wool.<\/p><p>A study with olive trees (<a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10992544\/\">LINK<\/a>) showed that:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">wool had no negative influence on total bacterial diversity<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">some bacterial species actually became more active<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">especially bacteria that can break down complex organic material occurred more frequently<\/li><\/ul><p>This is logical, because wool consists of keratin, a sturdy protein that can only be broken down by specific microorganisms.<\/p><p>Other studies show that the addition of wool can lead to:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">more soil bacteria<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">larger bacterial biomass<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">a more active soil ecosystem<\/li><\/ul><p>During decomposition, nutrients such as nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon are released, which in turn serve as food for soil organisms.<\/p><h5><b>Effect on mycorrhizal fungi<\/b><\/h5><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mycorrhiza are beneficial fungi that live in symbiosis with plant roots and help with the absorption of water and nutrients.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a study (<a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10992544\/\">LINK<\/a>) it was investigated whether wool influences these fungi. The results show that:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wool had no negative influence on the activity of mycorrhiza<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the fungi retained their ability to colonise plant roots<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>Only at very high wool dosages (approximately 2% of the soil weight) was a slight decrease in bacterial diversity and mycorrhizal colonisation observed.<\/p><p>Dit suggereert dat matige hoeveelheden wol veilig zijn voor het bodemleven, maar dat extreme hoeveelheden beter vermeden kunnen worden. Meer onderzoek is nodig om dit verder te bevestigen.<\/p><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><h4><b>From waste stream to a growing medium<\/b><\/h4><p>In the European Union, more than 200,000 tonnes of sheep wool are produced annually. A sheep yields an average of 1.5 to 3 kilos of wool per year. However, the majority of this wool is coarse and of relatively low quality.<\/p><p>The quality of wool is primarily determined by:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">fiber thickness (diameter of the wool fiber)<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">fibre length<\/li><\/ul><p>Based on fiber thickness, wool is classified into five categories:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">extra fine \u2013 18.5 micrometers or thinner<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">fine \u2013 18.6\u201320.5 micrometer<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">medium \u2013 20.6\u201322.5 micrometers<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">wide \u2013 22.6\u201325 micrometers<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">coarse \u2013 26\u201332 micrometers<\/li><\/ul><p>Fine wool is particularly interesting to the textile industry. However, in Europe, the majority of wool consists of coarser fibers, which are more difficult to process into clothing.<\/p><p>Because the market price for this wool is often low, it is viewed as a by-product on many sheep farms. In practice, this wool is therefore regularly:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">discarded<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">burned<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">put into landfill<\/li><\/ul><p>These are unsustainable solutions and can lead to environmental problems. Therefore, within the EU, there is an increasing focus on new applications for residual wool, for example in agriculture and horticulture. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Blaz_Petek\/publication\/344876692_Management_of_waste_sheep_wool_as_valuable_organic_substrate_in_European_Union_countries\/links\/65536f25b86a1d521be28ca1\/Management-of-waste-sheep-wool-as-valuable-organic-substrate-in-European-Union-countries.pdf\">LINK<\/a>)<\/p><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><h4><b>Practical applications: powder, pellets, or raw wool<\/b><\/h4><p>Sheep wool can be used in potting soil or substrate in various ways: as powder, pellets, or raw wool. The form in which wool is used influences how easy it is to work with, how evenly it is distributed in the pot, and how quickly nutrients are released.<\/p><p><strong>Wool powder<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wool powder (also known as wool grit) is ground wool that can be easily and evenly mixed into potting soil. This ensures a good distribution of nutrients throughout the substrate.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To produce wool powder, the wool is mechanically or chemically reduced into small fibers. It is possible to produce wool ranging from coarse granules (around 70 \u00b5m) to ultrafine granules, such as 2.6 \u00b5m. However, the production of ultrafine powders from wool requires either lengthy mechanical processing, such as ball mills and air jet mills, or intensive chemical treatment (with sodium silicate, which, incidentally, can also have a positive effect on plant growth). The production of coarse powder from wool, on the other hand, is relatively fast, sustainable, and less energy-intensive, while the powders remain suitable for processing and uniform mixing with the soil.<\/span><\/p><p>((It is unclear to us whether wool powder is also commercially available.))<\/p><p><strong>Wool pellets (wool granules)<\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wool pellets are compressed chunks of wool, similar to some organic fertilisers. They are easy to dose and fairly easy to mix into potting soil.<\/span><\/p><p>A disadvantage is that pellets remain locally in the substrate, which can lead to the formation of small zones with higher nutrient concentrations. As a result, the distribution is less homogeneous than with wool powder.<\/p><p><strong>Unprocessed wool<\/strong><\/p><p>A third possibility is the use of unprocessed wool. This is wool as it comes from the sheep, without further processing. The advantage is that this wool is often available cheaply or even for free.<\/p><p>The disadvantage is that unprocessed wool is difficult to mix homogeneously with potting soil. Therefore, it is often applied in layers, for example:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">substrate \u2013 layer of wool \u2013 substrate<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">layer of wool \u2013 substrate \u2013 layer of wool \u2013 substrate<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">layer wool \u2013 substrate<\/li><\/ul><p>This principle has also been used in an experiment in Poland (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/289907962_Utilization_of_Waste_Wool_as_Substrate_Amendment_in_Pot_Cultivation_of_Tomato_Sweet_Pepper_and_Eggplant\">LINK<\/a>).<\/p><p>Please note that raw wool from the sheep farmer can contain up to approximately 40% impurities.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Blaz_Petek\/publication\/344876692_Management_of_waste_sheep_wool_as_valuable_organic_substrate_in_European_Union_countries\/links\/65536f25b86a1d521be28ca1\/Management-of-waste-sheep-wool-as-valuable-organic-substrate-in-European-Union-countries.pdf\">LINK<\/a>) A ton of raw wool contains on average:<\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">640kg wool fibre<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">150 lkg lanoline<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">150 kg dirt (soil)<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">40 kg suint (wool fat and potassium salts)<\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">20 kg of plant material<\/li><\/ul><p>In addition, traces of insecticides may be present.<\/p><h4>\u00a0<\/h4><h4><b>Ethical considerations regarding the use of sheep wool<\/b><\/h4><p>The use of sheep's wool in potting soil can also raise ethical questions. Wool is an animal product, and the way sheep are kept and shorn is sometimes a subject of debate.<\/p><p>Both breeders and customers may have questions about this. A possible approach is to use wool from biodynamic or extensive sheep farmers and to regularly check whether the animal husbandry method aligns with one's own principles.<\/p><p>At the same time, it is good to realise that animal products are already frequently found in potting soil, for example in organic fertilizers. Many consumers are unaware of this.<\/p><p>Furthermore, many people are unaware that wool in the Netherlands is often a residual or waste product. This can create the impression that the wool could have been better used for clothing. In reality, it usually concerns lower-quality wool that is not suitable for textiles.<\/p><p>Therefore, clear communication with customers is important when wool is used in growing media.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7f80427\" data-id=\"7f80427\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-75ea7ce elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"75ea7ce\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ee3d2a9\" data-id=\"ee3d2a9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-462bca9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"462bca9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>References:\u00a0<\/p><ul><li class=\"nova-legacy-e-text nova-legacy-e-text--size-xl nova-legacy-e-text--family-display nova-legacy-e-text--spacing-none nova-legacy-e-text--color-grey-900 research-detail-header-section__title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/289907962_Utilization_of_Waste_Wool_as_Substrate_Amendment_in_Pot_Cultivation_of_Tomato_Sweet_Pepper_and_Eggplant\">Utilization of Waste Wool as Substrate Amendment in Pot Cultivation of Tomato, Sweet Pepper, and Eggplant<\/a><\/li><li class=\"nova-legacy-e-text nova-legacy-e-text--size-xl nova-legacy-e-text--family-display nova-legacy-e-text--spacing-none nova-legacy-e-text--color-grey-900 research-detail-header-section__title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10992544\/\">Impact of sheep wool residues as soil amendments on olive beneficial symbionts and bacterial diversity<\/a><\/li><li class=\"heading-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19345569\/\">Wool-waste as organic nutrient source for container-grown plants<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9918954\/\">The Effect of Wool Mulch on Plant Development in the Context of the Physical and Biological Conditions in Soil<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/research.wur.nl\/en\/projects\/wool-for-crop-resilience-20-kb-45-005-016\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Wool for Crop resilience 2.0<\/a><\/li><li class=\"title hypothesis_container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/14\/19\/12267#B27-sustainability-14-12267\">Waste Wool Powder for Promoting Plant Growth by Moisture Retention<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.semanticscholar.org\/paper\/Assessment-of-Utilization-of-Sheep-Wool-Pellets-as-Ordiales-Guti%C3%A9rrez\/f82a5ca753cb8755962776df8a68816a7fa52dca\">Assessment of Utilization of Sheep Wool Pellets as Organic Fertilizer and Soil Amendment in Processing Tomato and Broccoli<\/a><\/li><li class=\"heading-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/16275732\/\">Assessment of wool waste and hair waste as soil amendment and nutrient source<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/profile\/Blaz_Petek\/publication\/344876692_Management_of_waste_sheep_wool_as_valuable_organic_substrate_in_European_Union_countries\/links\/65536f25b86a1d521be28ca1\/Management-of-waste-sheep-wool-as-valuable-organic-substrate-in-European-Union-countries.pdf\">Management of\u00a0waste sheep wool as\u00a0valuable organic substrate in\u00a0European Union countries<\/a><\/li><li id=\"screen-reader-main-title\" class=\"Head u-font-serif u-h2 u-margin-s-ver\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0032591022004119\"><span class=\"title-text\">Thermally stable micro-sized silica-modified wool powder from one-step alkaline treatment<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4114214 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4114214\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c5e269f\" data-id=\"c5e269f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c6d1d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0c6d1d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"478\" data-end=\"517\"><strong><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">Ondersteun <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">onafhankelijk <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">kenniswerk<\/span><\/strong><\/p><p data-start=\"519\" data-end=\"684\"><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">Dit <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">article <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">is <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">vrij <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">toegankelijk <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">zodat <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">kennis <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">for <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">kwekers <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">breed <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">beschikbaar <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">blijft. <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">Het <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">schrijven <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">and <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">verzamelen <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">van <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">deze <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">informatie <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">kost <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">echter <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">tijd <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">and <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">onderzoek. <strong>Wij krijgen geen subsidie van de overheid en zijn afhankelijk van donaties.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p data-start=\"686\" data-end=\"921\"><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">Heeft <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">dit <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">article <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">u <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">geholpen <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">of <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">nieuwe <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">inzichten <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">gegeven? Doe dan<\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">een <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">vrijwillige <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">bijdrage<\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">. <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">Daarmee <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">helpt <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">u ons<\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">om <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">dit <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">werk <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">voort <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">te <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">zetten <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">and <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">the <\/span><strong data-start=\"854\" data-end=\"899\"><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">onafhankelijke <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">kenniscentrum <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">for <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">kwekers<\/span><\/strong> <span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">verder <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">uit <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">te <\/span><span class=\"BZ_Pyq_fadeIn\">bouwen.<\/span><\/p><p data-start=\"1353\" data-end=\"1530\">Je kunt een directe donatie doen op onze bankrekening. Dit kan eenmalig zijn, of terugkerend. Ons rekeningnummer is:<\/p><div>Stichting Turfvrij<\/div><div>Triodos Bank<\/div><div><strong>IBAN:NL79TRIO0320678385<\/strong><\/div><div>BIC TRIONL2U<\/div><div>\u00a0<\/div><p data-start=\"1353\" data-end=\"1530\"><strong>We're an ANBI foundation.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Schapenwol als groeimedium: kansen voor kwekers Geschreven door Karin Bodewits, microbioloog (PhD) en houdt zich bezig met\u00a0duurzame teeltsystemen en veengebieden.\u00a0 De laatste jaren wordt steeds meer onderzoek gedaan naar het gebruik van schapenwol in bodem en potgrond. Verschillende studies laten zien dat wol niet alleen een restproduct is, maar ook een nuttige bodemverbeteraar en natuurlijke &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/schapenwol-in-potgrond\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Schapenwol in potgrond<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3296,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3600"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3600"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3699,"href":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3600\/revisions\/3699"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/turfvrij.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}