Researchers’ cheaper, more-efficient method turn rock into potassium fertilizer

Researchers from Morocco have developed a way to produce fertilizer from local African rocks, which could make it easier for farmers to grow the crops needed to feed local residents. Researchers also revealed that African soils, especially in central Africa, are rich in organic matter and have lots of water, but farmers still need fertilizers to provide important macronutrients like potassium, which strengthens plants’ ability to absorb water, improves disease resistance, and increases crop yields.Abdellatif Elghali, professor at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic in Benguerir, Morocco, and his colleagues have been looking for ways to turn local potassium-rich syenite rocks into a cheaper and more efficient alternative fertilizer. Non-negligible concentration of potassium “We have a lot of potassic silicates like feldspars that have a non-negligible concentration of potassium. But the problem is they have a very strong crystalline structure, so they are not going to provide a sufficient amount of potassium to support the plants,” said Elghali.The team developed a process to convert the rocks into a form that would enable them to release their potassium. They crushed the rocks to increase the available surface area, added water and alkaline or acidic agents, then heated the mixture to just under 200°C to convert the minerals from an insoluble to a soluble state, according to a press release. Team used intensely bright synchrotron light When soaked in water the modified rocks released an initial fast burst of potassium and calcium, then continued to release the minerals more slowly over time as well as other nutrients that are good for the soil and plant health including silicon and magnesium. Lab tests also found that plants like corn and soya could take up the nutrients just as well as from conventional potash fertilizer, as per the release.“Based on the results of the chemical leaching test and the agronomic test, the conclusion is yes, it could work,” said Elghali.The research team also revealed that the the Canadian Light Source (CLS) was vital to understanding how the chemical and heat treatment liberated the potassium and allowed it to be taken up by the plants. “Basic lab techniques didn’t give us enough information about the mechanism,” he said. The team used intensely bright synchrotron light at the CLS to conduct detailed analyses on the modified rocks. The next steps are to conduct larger field tests to ensure the new fertilizer works at scale and to fine tune the process to ensure it is easy and cost-effective to produce, as per the release. Potassium is one of the essential nutrients required for healthy plant growth. It helps crops absorb water, improves their resistance to disease and supports higher yields. Conventional potassium fertilizers are generally produced from potash, which is mined from underground deposits. Much of the world’s potash comes from countries in the Northern Hemisphere, including Canada, Russia and Germany. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.