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Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

Posted December 31, 2008 8:56 AM

From ScienceDaily: Latest Science News:

Agricultural crop production relies on composted waste materials and byproducts, such as animal manure, municipal solid waste composts, and sewage sludge, as a necessary nutrient source. Studies have shown that human hair, a readily available waste generated from barbershops and hair salons, combined with additional compost, is an additional nutrient source for crops.

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Anonymous Poster
#1

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/01/2009 12:25 PM

I guess I dont understand the need for further research. Are they looking for grant money?
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DVader1000
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#2

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/01/2009 7:47 PM

You really don't say.

Well, considering the fact that human hair is mostly keratin, a protein, then it's obviously a very good source of nitrogen from a waste product that has little application other than wigs or hair extensions.

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Jeff in Mexico
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#3

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/01/2009 11:31 PM

I had found this interesting some years ago so when preparing a new raised flower bed I was careful to make all of the soil and watering equal. I then placed a large handful of hair from my neighbor's salon into every other hole dug for various plants, shrubs and bamboo.

To my absolute amazement the hair fed plants were heartier and grew slightly better than the other plants. They appeared fuller and wintered better as well. The bamboo with the hair kicker seemed to fare the best.

It may not be a very scientific study but I have convinced myself, my wife and a few neighbors who also began planting with the otherwise discarded hair!
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scotchdrnkr
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#4

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/02/2009 6:20 AM

Would animal hair work as well as human hair? I have 4 cats & 2 dogs that shed profusely. I vacuum the house once a week and literally fill the bag each time. I've always wondered if there was a use for all this hair. If I put it in my compost pile will it help?

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user-deleted-1105
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#5

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/02/2009 7:14 AM

No no!
The human DNA will get into the vegetables and we'll have mutant courgettes on the rampage...help..help...don't panic...don't picnic.
Head for the hills the sky is falling in.

Duh...is this really news?...'shit makes veg grow'...hold the front page.

Del

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Kris
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#6
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Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/04/2009 3:39 AM

Mutant Courgettes.....well, you never know......

Lucky that cats don't have hollow fur ! Must go and dust me head with ringworm powder......

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#7
In reply to #6

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/05/2009 1:08 PM

Attack of the 50 Foot Zucchini - a 'B' movie begging to be made!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Lc0Lra9cI

Disregard this one, please see the next one - the KrisDel™ Time Machine failed me...

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#8
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Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/05/2009 1:08 PM

I noted another item in your link about "beavers are back in Britain". That would explain the surge in population I suppose...

Attack of the 50 foot zucchini - a "B" movie begging to be made...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Lc0Lra9cI

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#9
In reply to #8

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/06/2009 7:51 AM

Think so? Check out this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzhL-0_pC3E

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Kris
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#10
In reply to #9

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/06/2009 1:01 PM

LOL - the more I listened and watched, the more I was getting into that ! This one has me in hysterics.

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#11
In reply to #10

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/06/2009 1:23 PM

I can certainly see why... If Abraham Lincoln was alive to see that, he'd be turning over in his grave about now.

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Kris
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#12
In reply to #11

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/07/2009 2:09 AM

There's a version with Bush & Blair somewhere. A bit of a theme here ...... !

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#13
In reply to #12

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/07/2009 10:17 AM

Egad! Presidential humor - what would we do without it?

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Kris
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#14
In reply to #13

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/07/2009 1:39 PM

The upper echelons of society don't need Soylent Green.....

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EnviroMan
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#15
In reply to #14

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/07/2009 2:06 PM

I'd starve first... Some people will swallow anything, though, which is how we seem to get a lot of our leadership...

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Kris
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#16
In reply to #15

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/07/2009 2:34 PM

Sadly it's true and, even worse, **** floats. Maybe the Merchant Bankers will cloy into one big mass and sink. Big maybe.

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#17
In reply to #16

Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/07/2009 2:48 PM

Oh, yeah, THAT lot...

"We serve as an excellent tool for investors, allowing them to easily and inexpensively bankrupt in their business."

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#18
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Re: Human Hair Combined With Compost Is Good Fertilizer For Plants

01/08/2009 2:23 AM
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