Abstract

A chemical evaluation of the solids wastes produced by Chilean salmoniculture was done with the aim to evaluate its potential as organic fertilizer. The samples were collected from sediments located bottom under the net cage system located at the lake Natri (Chile). The salmoniculture waste samples and as a control poultry manure were evaluated for their total N, P and K content. AIso a N mineralization test based on Stanford and Smith methodology was used to characterize the samples and to evaluate their potential as manure. The salmoniculture waste samples presents a high total phosphorus contents, and low total nitrogen and potassium contents. The incubation study shown that the salmoniculture wastes present a minor content of N easily available and a slow nitrogen mineralization rate, in comparison with poultry manure.