Tabitha Kelley, & Dr. Ruben Alarcon
Crustacean based fertilizers are far from abnormal considering how they are so rich in chitin which break down into important nutrients such as calcium and nitrogen. Crab and shrimp are most common fertilizers however non-native crayfish are hard to avoid in the streams of the Santa Monica Mountains. Since these crayfish are non-native, efforts to remove these crustaceans to restore the river and habitats have been effect but with this crayfish waste, the question is raised: Could crayfish exoskeletons be used as fertilizer to benefit plants and enrich soil? To determine if crayfish exoskeletons can be used as fertilizer for plants, we performed a garden experiment where leafy vegetables were planted into soil that was fertilized with either crab, shrimp or crayfish, and allowed to grow over weeks. Soil samples taken before and after planting, dried in an oven and the tested for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, while the vegetables were analyzed based on growth factors such as weight and height following. All of these factors are then compared to the control but also to each other, to determine if crayfish is a suitable alternative fertilizer.