Starkville, Miss.-Snipped locks of human hair, discarded from barbershops and hair salons, probably can be turned into fertilizer, according to Mississippi State University researchers. The results of the study, detailed in a recent issue of the journal HortTechnology, showed that plant yields in one case were actually increased for the hair-fertilized plants over conventional fertilizer, although in other tests it did not produce as well as with controlled-release and water-soluble fertilizers. Researchers concluded that results suggest that noncomposted hair could be used as a nutrient source for container-grown plants, but further studies are still needed to see if human hair is a viable option for fertilizing edible crops because of possible health concerns.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain