Hi all,
The use of basalt rock-dust has been shown to benefit highly degraded tropical soils through remineralisation, however research into its use as a slow-release, sustainable fertilizer in more temperate environments has insignificant improvements to soil chemistry, soil microbiological communities, and plant nutrition.
This poor performance in colder environments has been attributed to slow weathering rates.
Basalt fibers are produced from melting crushed basalt rock and subsequent cooling at much cooler and low pressure conditions relative to dykes and sills. This results in a product with properties more akin to amorphous basalt (glass).
I am hoping that the weathering rate of the basalt glass/fibers will be significantly greater than basalt rock dust, and therefore potentially provide a sustainable slow release fertilizer.
Does anyone know where I can find some studies on the weathering rates of basalt glass or basalt fibers in soil environments (i.e. not the seafloor, which is abundant). Or does anyone have any relevant expertise in this field care to shed some light on my problem.
Thank you.
I am not providing answer directly to your question. Please find attached a paper where the role Deccan basalt in the formation of shrink-swell soils (Vertisols) is described. This may possibly answer partially to your question .
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