New glauconite-based fertilizers have emerged in Russia, designed to deliver a targeted boost to crops. This development was announced by the press service of Tomsk Polytechnic University, highlighting a novel approach to soil enrichment. The formulations blend readily available nutrients with glauconite, a distinctive clay mineral rich in iron, silicon, aluminum, and a spectrum of other elements that influence plant growth. This combination aims to unlock the full potential of glauconite by pairing it with complementary nutrients in ways that activate and optimize its benefits for agricultural soils.
Researchers explain that glauconite inherently carries plant-essential nutrients, notably potassium. The challenge is to awaken the mineral so that every beneficial property is leveraged. To accomplish this, the team blends glauconite with nitrogen-containing substances, applying several processing methods that pre-activate the mineral in different milling stages. The result is a series of composites in which nutrients appear both on the mineral surface and within its internal structure, creating layered, porous materials with varied forms of ion exchange capabilities. The presence of potassium, nitrogen, and trace elements within a single composite improves soil physics and chemistry, supporting healthier root systems and robust crop development in a way that standard fertilizers alone may not achieve, according to Maxim Rudmin, a participant in the research at the university.
The new fertilizer was trialed on a 0.25-hectare field under a crop holding, used alongside conventional fertilizers in a wheat cultivation program. In the test plots, the chemical mix developed by Tomsk scientists was applied together with the usual fertilization strategy, yielding a notable 27.4% uplift in crop yield compared with the control plots that did not receive the new glauconite-based formulation. Beyond yield gains, plant quality also showed measurable improvement, with an increased number of spikelets and grains per spike observed in treated plants. These findings indicate not only higher productivity but also potential enhancements in grain fill and grain quality, contributing to more reliable harvest outcomes for farmers and agronomists alike. The researchers emphasized that the benefits stem from the unique structure of the composites, which provide sustained nutrient release and more effective nutrient use efficiency in the root zone, potentially reducing overall fertilizer inputs over time.
Going forward, agricultural technicians plan to expand testing to larger fields in 2023, aiming to validate consistency across different soils, climates, and crop varieties. The team notes that scaling up will involve careful monitoring of environmental impact, soil health indicators, and long-term soil fertility dynamics to ensure the technology remains sustainable and economically viable for farmers. In related work, chemical scientists have previously introduced renewed anti-corrosion coatings, illustrating a broader program of material innovations pursued within the same research ecosystem. These parallel advances reflect a continuous effort to translate laboratory insights into practical applications that improve agricultural resilience and industrial performance alike, as reported by the university’s communications office.