Farming With Rocks and Minerals: Challenges and Opportunities

PETER VAN STRAATEN

Department of Land Resource Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
Manuscript received on September 29, 2005; accepted for publication on March 13, 2006;

presented by OTHON H. LEONARDO

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.

Key words: soil nutrient replenishment, rock fertilizer, phosphate rock.

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