A Moroccan Rock Could Become a New Fertilizer for Africa
A potassium-rich rock found in Morocco could be used to produce a slow-release fertilizer. Researchers have managed to make its nutrients more accessible to plants, opening up a potential way to reduce dependence on imported potash fertilizers.
This rock, known as syenite, naturally contains potassium, an element essential to crops. The problem is that it remains trapped in its mineral structure and is therefore not directly assimilable by plants.
On Bladi.net : From Rock to Gray Gold: OCP’s Plan to Transform 75% of Global Reserves into Premium Fertilizer
In a study published in Minerals Engineering, a team including several researchers from Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) subjected this Moroccan syenite to a hydrothermal treatment designed to modify its structure.
The result: a significant portion of the potassium becomes much more easily mobilizable when in contact with water.
Rapid, Then Gradual Release
The researchers observed two phases. An initial amount of nutrients is released rapidly, after which the potassium continues to diffuse more slowly. The treated rock could thus nourish plants for a longer period than an immediately soluble application.
The material also releases calcium, which could offer an additional benefit for certain acidic soils.
This prospect is particularly interesting for Africa, where access to imported potash fertilizers can be costly or irregular. A previous study conducted on syenite from the Tamazeght complex, near Midelt, had already shown that a similar treatment could significantly increase the amount of nutrients released by the rock.
On Bladi.net : The United Kingdom Discovers How Dependent It Is on Morocco
However, this is not yet a commercialized Moroccan fertilizer. For now, the research focuses on the behavior of the material in the laboratory. Nevertheless, it shows that a geological resource found in Morocco could become a local source of potassium and eventually complement conventional fertilizers.
