Crushed rocks and mine tailings applied as K fertilizers on grassland

Abstract

Crushed rocks and mine tailings containing biotite, K-feldspar and nepheline as K-bearing minerals were applied as K fertilizers in a series of 15 grassland field trials. A treatment with KCl as K-source outyielded treatments with rock based fertilizers in the first and the second experimental year. In the third and last year of the study when no K fertilizers were supplied, previously added carbonatite and biotite concentrate supported grass growth as much as previously added KCl did. Although it is concluded that a substantial part of the K bound in biotite and/or nepheline in crushed carbonatites, biotite concentrate and epidote schists is plant available, these rock/mineral products weathered too slowly to replenish the native pool of plant available K within a three year period with five harvests. The K bound in K-feldspar seemed to be nearly unavailable for the grass plants.