Fish protein fertilizer offers a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers by improving soil health and enhancing bamboo growth and yield. This innovative approach has been shown to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts associated with traditional fertilization methods.
Researchers conducted comprehensive studies on Lei bamboo, scientifically known as Phyllostachys violascens, to examine the efficacy of fish protein fertilizer. The results, published on April 14, 2025, indicate significant improvements not just to plant health, but also to soil conditions, which are often degraded by excessive chemical fertilizer use.
Lei bamboo is economically valuable, renowned for its high yield and superior quality of its edible shoots. Unfortunately, the high usage of chemical fertilizers intended to accelerate shoot production has deteriorated soil health, leading to reduced productivity and increased ecological harm.
The study involved researchers, including Z. Yang and J. Zhao, from various institutions, who explored how replacing portions of traditional fertilizers with fish protein fertilizer could offer ecological benefits. Situated in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province, their field tests revealed promising results.
Significantly, the findings showed replacing 45 kg of chemical compound fertilizer with 10 kg or 20 kg of fish protein fertilizer led to increases of 23.24% and 26.19% respectively in bamboo shoot yield. This enhancement is attributed to the addition of amino acids, which are known to boost microbial growth and overall soil health.
Soil properties were also positively impacted. Notably, improvements were recorded in soil pH, available phosphates, organic carbon levels, and microbial activity, all of which play important roles in enhancing nutrient availability for plants.
"Amino acid fertilizer can promote microbial growth and increase soil enzyme activity, thereby improving phosphorus availability," the authors stated, underscoring the dual benefits of using fish protein fertilizer for both soil and plant health.
One of the most significant results of the study was the improvement seen not just in bamboo shoot yield but also the morphology of roots. The application of fish protein fertilizer facilitated thicker roots, fostering enhanced nutrient absorption. This was evident as the root lengths and the total biomass of bamboo above ground experienced marked growth during the experimental period.
Despite the low nutrient content typically found in organic fertilizers, the introduction of fish protein fertilizer successfully achieved nutrient balance, thanks to its role in fostering soil microbiomes and promoting higher soil enzyme activity.
The study concludes by confirming the overall feasibility of fish protein fertilizer as not only beneficial for boosting bamboo yields but also as key to sustainable forest management practices. By lessening dependency on chemical fertilizers, this method could mark the start of significant ecological recovery for bamboo cultivation.
"Replacing chemical fertilizers with fish protein fertilizer can increase the shoot yield of Lei bamboo by up to 26.19%," the authors noted, illustrating the potential commercial viability of this approach.
These findings encourage broader adoption of such sustainable practices, not only to improve agricultural outputs but also to protect and restore soil health, affirming the necessity and urgency for innovative solutions within the agricultural sector.