203 results for group: agriculture-1
Rocks as fertilizers: preliminary studies on potassium availability of some common rocks in Sri Lanka
J. M. NIWAS and C. B. DISSANAYAKE
Abstract
Preliminary investigations of the K availability of some commonly occurring rocks of Sri Lanka
showed that granulitic gneiss, pink granite, migmatitic gneiss and microcline granite release relatively high
amounts of K indicating the capability of using these to provide K in plant nutrition. The finer crushed sizes
are more effective in releasing K, and the availability of the K-reserves under appropriate soil conditions
makes them possible substitutes for synthetic K fertilizers.
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The use of rocks to improve family agriculture in Brazil
During the second half of the 20th century, the introduction of new chemical agriculture technologies brought about a revolution in food production, but this has also cause deep deterioration in our relationships with the natural environment. In developing tropical countries, record yields were accompanied by rural exodus, widespread deforestation and loss of topsoil. The stonemeal research described herein is an alternative to such practices as it is an environmental friendly and socially responsible technology based on soil rejuvenation and conservation by means of the addition of natural rock powders that are rich in phosphorous, calcium, magnesi...
Agronomic feasibility of using basalt powder as soil nutrient remineralizer
Augusto Vaghetti Luchese, Laércio Augusto Pivetta, Marcelo Augusto Batista, Fábio Steiner, Ana Paula da Silva Giaretta and Janete Chaves Dellabeta Curtis
Abstract
Tropical agriculture is highly dependent of soluble fertilizers, what raises the cost of production. An alternative to reduce the costs inputs is the use of low-cost alternative nutrient sources, such as the basic rocks. The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of basalt powder on the soil chemical properties and plant growth. The experiment was arranged in a 2×2×2×3+4 factorial scheme: two soils (clay soil and sandy clay loam soil); two crops (maize and soybean); two ...
Vermicomposting with rock powder increases plant growth
Maria Eunice Paulade Souza, André Mundstock Xavierde Carvalho, Daniely de Cássia Deliberali, Ivo Jucksch, George Gardner Brown, Eduardo Sá Mendonçaca, Irene Maria Cardoso
Abstract
The growth of earthworms in substrates enriched with rock (gneiss and steatite) powder, and the potential of vermicomposting in increasing solubilization of minerals present in rock powder and in promoting plant growth were evaluated. Cattle manure (400 g), was enriched with 0, 5 and 20% of gneiss or steatite powder. Each pot with this mixture received nine earthworms (Eisenia andrei), at a density of 1000 indiv. m−3. After 60 d, earthworms were collected, ...
Evaluation of the potential of volcanic rock waste from southern Brazil as a natural soil fertilizer
Claudete Gindri Ramos, Xavier Querol, Adilson Celimar Dalmora, Karen Cristinade Jesus Pires, Ivo André Homrich Schneider, Luis Felipe Silva Oliveir, Rubens Muller Kautzmann
Abstract
This study was developed to evaluate the chemical and mineralogical properties of acid volcanic rock waste from mining activities by measuring the availability of macronutrients and micronutrients in Milli-Q water, and in acidic solutions to evaluate the potential use of this type of waste as natural soil fertilizers. The sample used in this work was obtained from a company of the mining district of Nova Prata, Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. Petrographic ...
Environmentally safe release of plant available potassium and micronutrients from organically amended rock mineral powder
B. B. Basak, Binoy Sarkar & Ravi Naidu
Abstract
The staggering production of rock dusts and quarry by-products of mining activities poses an immense environmental burden that warrants research for value-added recycling of these rock mineral powders (RMP). In this study, an incubation experiment was conducted to determine potassium (K) and micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) release from a quarry RMP to support plant nutrition. Four different size fractions of the RMP were incubated with organic amendments (cow dung and legume straw) under controlled conditions for 90 days. Samples were collected at different intervals (7, 15, 30, 45, 60 and90 ...
Release kinetics of multi-nutrients from volcanic rock mining by-products: Evidences for their use as a soil remineralizer
Leandro Gomez Plata, Claudete Gindri Ramos, Marcos Leandro Silva Oliveira, Luis Felipe Silva Oliveira
Abstract
Great quantities of stone by-products are stored alongside different exploiting mines in south Brazil, which are becoming an unsustainable environmental issue. Powder materials of andesite and dacite rocks were obtained from two mining companies of Southern Brazil. The particle size classification of the materials was determined by sieving. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was used to identify the mineral phases of the by-products and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was applied to determine their chemical compositions. The concentrations ...
Enabling food security through use of local rocks and minerals
David A.C.Manning, Suzi Huff Theodoro
Abstract
In many developing countries, replacement of the nutrients needed to produce subsistence and cash crops is a major challenge, because of cost and long/complex supply chains. Nutrient audits show that major nutrients are being removed from soils faster than they are being replenished, which is clearly unsustainable. The use of crushed silicate rocks as a source of plant nutrients predates the use of the chemical fertilizers that have revolutionised global agriculture. Such highly soluble fertilizers are not ideal for the deeply leached oxisols wide spread in the global south, and are rapidly leached. ...
