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Open AccessJournal ArticleDOI

Farming with rocks and minerals: challenges and opportunities

Peter van Straaten
- 01 Dec 2006 - 
- Vol. 78, Iss: 4, pp 731-747
TLDR
In this article, a literature survey of experiences of using multi-nutrient rock fertilizers for soil fertility enhancement from temperate and tropical environments is provided, where the potential of combining organic materials alongside rock fertilizer in soil fertility replenishment strategies is stressed.
Abstract
In many parts of the world food security is at risk. One of the biophysical root causes of falling per-capita food production is the declining quality and quantity of soils. To reverse this trend and increase soil fertility soil and plant nutrients have to be replenished. This review provides a literature survey of experiences of using multi-nutrient rock fertilizers for soil fertility enhancement from temperate and tropical environments. Advantages and limitations of the application of rock fertilizers are discussed. Examples are provided from two successful nutrient replenishment projects in Africa where locally available rock fertilizers are used on highly leached acid soils. The potential of combining organic materials alongside rock fertilizers in soil fertility replenishment strategies is stressed.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI

Mineral sources of potassium for plant nutrition. A review.

TL;DR: In this article, the authors review current knowledge of alternative sources of K, which is the seventh most abundant element in the Earth's continental crust, present in feldspars and (much less commonly) feldstathoid minerals including nepheline and leucite.
Journal ArticleDOI

Potential and costs of carbon dioxide removal by enhanced weathering of rocks

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide a comprehensive assessment of economic costs, energy requirements, technical parameterization, and global and regional carbon removal potential for carbon removal, focusing on the grain size and weathering rates.
Journal ArticleDOI

Improvement of Phosphate Solubilization and Medicago Plant Yield by an Indole-3-Acetic Acid-Overproducing Strain of Sinorhizobium meliloti

TL;DR: How, in a Rhizobium-legume model system, a balanced interplay of different factors linked to bacterial IAA overproduction rather than IAA production per se stimulates plant growth under stressful environmental conditions and, in particular, under P starvation is discussed.
References
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Book

The Nature and Properties of Soils

Nyle C. Brady, +1 more
TL;DR: The Soils Around Us 2 Formation of Soils from Parent Materials 3 Soil Classification 4 Soil Architecture and Physical Properties 5 Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior 6 Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle 7 Soil Aeration and Temperature 8 Soil Colloids: Seat of Soil Chemical and Physical Activity 9 Soil Acidity 10 Soils of Dry Regions: Alkalinity, Salinity, and Sodicity 11 Organisms and Ecology of the Soil 12 Soil Organic Matter 13 Nitrogen and Sulfur Economy of Soiles 14 Soil Ph
Book

The nature and properties of soils

Nyle C. Brady, +1 more
TL;DR: The nature and properties of soils are studied to establish an understanding of the phytochemical properties of soil and how these properties change over time.
Journal ArticleDOI

Soil Fertility and Hunger in Africa

Pedro A. Sanchez
- 15 Mar 2002 - 
TL;DR: A soil fertility replenishment approach has been developed based on naturally available resources: nitrogen-fixing leguminous tree fallows that accumulate 100 to 200 kg N ha, indigenous rock phosphate applications, and biomass transfers of the nutrient-accumulating shrub Tithonia diversifolia.
Journal ArticleDOI

Nutrient use efficiency in plants

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a method to select plants that are efficient in absorption and utilization of nutrients, which greatly enhance the efficiency of applied fertilizers, reducing cost of inputs, and preventing losses of nutrients to ecosystems.
Book

The nature and properties of soils

Nyle C. Brady
TL;DR: In this paper, Canadian and FAO Soil Classification Systems were used to classify the Soils around us and their properties, including: 1. Formation of Soils from Parent Materials. 2. Soils and Chemical Pollution. 3. Soil Architecture and Physical Properties.
Related Papers (5)
Trending Questions (3)
What are the potential risks of combining fertilizers with calcium?

The paper does not mention any potential risks of combining fertilizers with calcium.

What is the discussion about rocks and minerals??

The discussion is about the advantages and limitations of using rock fertilizers for soil fertility enhancement in temperate and tropical environments.

What is the discussion about rocks and minerals? Can you explain it?

The discussion is about using rock fertilizers to enhance soil fertility, particularly in tropical environments, where the soils are receptive to nutrient addition.