Growth responses of crop plants to fish soluble nutrients fertilization

The utilization of fish wastes in the form of fish soluble nutrients (FSN) for agricultural crop plants fertilization was investigated over the past 7 years as an aid to the Virginia seafood industry threatened by the waste disposal problem. Controlled greenhouse and field experiments involving a broad selection of both food and nonfood crops have substantiated the ancient belief that fish and its byproducts have beneficial effects on plant growth. The investigations showed that FSN contains all the inorganic and organic substances needed for plant growth but does not provide a balanced source of nutrients for all crop species. By a proper selection of crop plant and fertilization with moderately dilute (4.0 to 16.0 ml FSN concentrate 1- 1 water) solutions, FSN have proven to be of benefit for the growing of several plants. Indoor crops grown in pots benefited more from FSN fertilization than did field-grown crops.

FSN were found to retard reproductive development of plants and to delay plant aging. How F$N cause these growth processes is unknown and merit additional study.