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Is this meant to be spread on cropland? I figure so because they say farmland and the (stock?) photo appears to be crops but I didn't see it specifically mentio
by rascul 4y ago
Is this meant to be spread on cropland? I figure so because they say farmland and the (stock?) photo appears to be crops but I didn't see it specifically mentioned. What affects will it have on the crops?
- ggm 4y ago"It depends" some rock is net beneficial, can be both structural, physical-chemical effects on soil regarding clumping and water retention, and bio active (supporting beneficial micro-organisms, providing micro nutrients) Some phosphate rich rocks might be also known as.. fertiliser. Arsenous rocks would be a disaster. It's a huge issue in India with water table and ground contamination. Likewise lead, or salt (in the wider sense if it causes brackish ground water) although that's about deep wells. I have no idea if this is a serious risk for rockdust plans. For enough upside benefit downsides might have to be borne or mitigated.
- kuhewa 4y agoThe type of rock dust they are talking about is already commonly used as a soil amendment to add trace elements and minerals. That said it is possible I suppose that the optimal amount for carbon drawdown is greater than the optimal amount for crop health or yields
- rascul 4y agoBasalt is mentioned in the article. I know just a little bit about farming and growing things but I don't know anything about this rock stuff. But if it's good (or, perhaps, at least not bad) for the crops then it does seem like a possible good idea.
- kuhewa 4y agoBasalt rock dust is a pretty common amendment to add trace elements to soils especially in organic gardening
- tekstar 4y agoProbably a sort of crunchy effect, but hey it's high in minerals
- colechristensen 4y agoA normal soil ecosystem has fungi breaking down rocks to gather nutrients and sometimes exchange with plants. It could be a sort of fertilizer but certainly there would be a point of over applying which would have to be understood.
- ncmncm 4y agoClearly if you are putting it on farmland, the farmer will demand the beneficial stuff and reject the harmful stuff. There are lots of opportunities for harm, but plenty of material that would be beneficial, particularly for crops that like higher pH. Olivine, e g., often has excess nickel, which you then would not use on farmland. You might dump that on beaches, instead. The main thing is to move a lot of it. You would prefer to use renewable electric to crush it, but the main thing is to get started.
- beachy 4y agoWhere I live, beaches are virtually sacred and certainly not the places to dump anything.
- ncmncm 4y agoOlivine makes them a pretty, glassy green. But anyway you would put it on the many, many thousands of miles of shoreline where people are not, to be stirred by wave action.
- kuhewa 4y agoIf you lived near South Point, Hawai'i Island, you'd already have a (natural) olivine beach.
- beachy 4y ago