Greenlandic glacial rock flour improves crop yield in organic agricultural production

• DOI: 10.1007/s10705-023-10274-0
• Publication Date: 2023-03-21T09:04:23Z
• Authors: Klara Cecilia Gun...; Lars Stoumann Jensen; Minik T. Rosing; Christiana Dietzen
• Keywords: Silicate minerals

Abstract The application of mechanically crushed silicate minerals to agricultural soils has been proposed as a method for both improving crop yields and sequestering inorganic carbon through enhanced mineral weathering. In Greenland, large quantities finely grained glacial rock flour (GRF) are naturally produced by erosion bedrock deposited in easily accessible lacustrine marine deposits, without the need energy-intensive grinding. To determine if this material can improve yields, we applied 10 50 t GRF ha −1 sandy, organic field Denmark. Two trials were carried out test first-year yield response maize potatoes, residual effects on potato year after application, second third-year spring wheat. Reference-K treatments included comparison beneficial primarily due its K content (3.5% 2 O). This alternative source improved application. Though there was no improvement with reference-K treatments, each additional ton applied, dry increased 59 kg tuber an 90 . No observed following years, but suspect that benefits might persist over multiple seasons at sites lower initial fertility. increase achieved could offset some costs applying CO sequestration scheme.