# Thermoregulation and Soil Moisture Management in Strawberry Cultivation Munched with Sheep Wool  
[PERSON]  
Faculty of Materials, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Bielsko-Biala, Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biala, Poland; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.G.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.R.); tkuk  
For many years, in the cultivation of strawberries as a common mulching material, plastic mulch, mainly polyethylene film, was applied [6; 7; 8]. Applying synthetic materials generates massive non-biodegradable waste and potential pollution of the soil with plastic residues. Due to environmental concerns, plastic mulch must be eliminated, and biodegradable and renewable materials should be applied instead. In the literature, numerous examinations on the application of straw, shredded leaves, grass clippings, wood chips, bark, paper, or cardboard are reported [9; 10; 11; 12]. All mentioned mulching materials are of plant-origin, which are composed of cellulose. Under natural conditions, these materials decompose relatively quickly in less than one year [13].  
The alternative to using plant-origin materials is the application of organic materials of animal origin. The natural potential material that could be used is wool obtained annually by sheep shearing. Nowadays, wool obtained from local breeds, once a precious raw material for producing textiles, is often discarded and treated in many countries as a waste of sheep farming. New application areas have been explored for this wool, and several new products have been developed. The highest importance in these new areas is thermal and acoustic insulating materials, geotextiles, and fertilisers [14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20]. Applying wool as mulch is the next possible option.  
The literature presents a few studies on using sheep wool for mulching strawberries, lettuce, eggplants, and peppers in different soil types. It is reported that wool, similar to other mulch materials, suppresses weed growth, regulates the microclimate in the plant's root zone, prevents soil erosion, and impacts the soil's microbial activity [21; 22].  
Like cellulosic mulching materials, the wool gradually degrades in a humid environment in contact with the soil, adding to it organic matter. In contrast to cellulose-based materials, wool is more resistant to enzymatic attack due to the compact structure of wool keratin; therefore, its bio-degradation occurs relatively slowly [23]. In contact with soil, wool decomposition lasts much longer, usually longer than one vegetation season [24]. During wool biodegradation, the keratin is decomposed into nitrogen-rich organic compounds. The compounds are gradually released into the soil, significantly improving soil fertility and promoting intense plant growth [25]. Additionally, wool has better thermal insulation properties and higher water absorption capacity than cellulosic materials. Due to these unique properties, wool mulch should provide better soil thermoregulation and help retain moisture more effectively.  
Continuing previous research on the rational use of local resources of coarse wool obtained from mountain sheep, the possibility of using wool as a mulch in strawberry cultivation was tested. The test plots covered with wool and other plant-origin materials were prepared, and the effectiveness of wool mulch in regulating soil temperature and moisture content compared to other traditional organic mulch materials was tested. Simultaneously, the course of wool biodegradation was tracked while the changes in wool morphology were analysed.