The use of carbonatite rock powder as a liming agent

• Published in: Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
• Main Authors: Myrvang, Mona Bakke, Heim, Michael, Krogstad, Tore, Almås, Åsgeir R., Gjengedal, Elin
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2017
• Subjects: Lillebukt; Norway; Northern Norway
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201600455; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjpln.201600455; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jpln.201600455; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jpln.201600455

Abstract Carbonatite rock powder, originating from the Lillebukt Alkaline Complex at Stjernøy in northern Norway, can potentially be used as a slow‐releasing lime and potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) fertilizer due to a high concentration of the easily weathered minerals calcite (42%) and biotite (30%). However, the enrichment of barium (Ba) and strontium (Sr) may cause an undesired uptake to plants when carbonatite is applied to agroecosystems. A pot experiment was designed to investigate the liming and fertilization effects of carbonatite and the potential mobilization of Ba and Sr compared to a dolomite lime commonly used in Norwegian agriculture. These liming agents were mixed with a sandy soil applied to different amounts of peat, and the uptake of Ba, Sr, calcium (Ca), Mg, and K by Festuca arundinácea Schreb. Kora (tall fescue) and Trifolium repens L. Milkanova (white clover) was evaluated. The liming agents were generally incapable of buffering the acidifying effect from increased applications of peat, while the plant dry mass was unaffected. Compared to pots given dolomite and soluble K, the availability of K from carbonatite to plants was equally high or higher, and no difference in the K:(Ca + Mg) ratio in plants was observed. Carbonatite was a significant source to plant Ba and Sr, and the uptake seemed to follow the Ca uptake. Addition of peat amplified the uptake of Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, and K to plants, probably an effect of organic acid‐induced weathering of carbonatite. White clover took up Ba, Sr, and Ca more effectively than tall fescue, but the Ba and Sr concentrations in plants were relatively moderate compared to concentrations reported from field investigations.