Effect of Mussel Shells as Soil pH Amendment on the Growth and Productivity of Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Cultivation

Alexios Lolas (), Aikaterini Molla, Konstantinos Georgiou, Chrysoula Apostologamvrou, Alexandra Petrotou and Konstantinos Skordas
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Alexios Lolas: Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Ichthyology & Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Street, 38446 Volos, Greece
Aikaterini Molla: Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Acharnon 2 Street, 10176 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Georgiou: Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Ichthyology & Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Street, 38446 Volos, Greece
Chrysoula Apostologamvrou: Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Ichthyology & Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Street, 38446 Volos, Greece
Alexandra Petrotou: Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Ichthyology & Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Street, 38446 Volos, Greece
Konstantinos Skordas: Laboratory of Marine Biology, Department of Ichthyology & Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytokou Street, 38446 Volos, Greece

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Mussel shells, with their calcium carbonate content, serve as a natural pH buffer, aiding in neutralizing acidic soils and, consequently, enhancing nutrient availability for plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treating soils with mussel shells as a soil pH amendment on the agronomic characteristics and productivity of Rosmarinus officinalis . A pot experiment was set up for two growing years. The treatments were amended using different doses of mussel shells. Overall, the treatments were the following: C: unamended soil (control); T1: 0.1%; T2: 0.3%; T3: 0.5%; T4: 1%; T5: 3%; T6: 6%. Plant height was higher in pots amended with 6% mussel shells and reached the value of 32.2 cm in the first year and 51 cm in the second. The application of mussel shells increased the branch length by 53.4–58.7% and the number of branches per plant by 61.3–62% in T6 compared to the control. The total yield of fresh and dry weight in the 1st and 2nd year was ordered as follows: T6 > T5 > T4 > T3 > T2 > T1 > C. In conclusion, while the established optimal quantity for neutralizing soil pH is 300 g of mussel shells per 10 kg of soil, it has been observed that a ratio of 600 g of mussel shells proves more effective in terms of both the productivity and agronomic characteristics of rosemary.

Keywords: liming; Mytilus galloprovincialis; agronomic characteristics; aromatic-medicinal plants; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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