Background

At the SEER Centre we undertook the first scientifically controlled field trials of soil remineralisation in Scotland. The research plan was developed in partnership with the University of Glasgow, SEPA, SAC and others. Funding was secured from the Scottish Executive through ENTRUST for one year, but the trials continued beyond then, for three years. We are assessing the results and designing further experiments.

The research consisted of 8 paired treatments, each replicated 8 times for statistical purposes. The crop was the grass flat field opposite the SEER Centre. It was analysed on harvest for yield, nutrient quality and, along with the soil, carbon balance. Soil analysis before treatment was compared with mid-term and end analyses.

TREATMENTS:

• Soil (Control) / Soil and Rock dust

• Soil and Compost / Soil, Compost and Rock dust

• Soil and Manure / Soil, Manure and Rock dust

• Soil and NPK Fertiliser / Soil, NPK Fertiliser and Rock dust

Applying treatments to the plots –
you can see the SEER Centre in the background

(click on photo to enlarge)

The rockdust was applied to its designated squares in early November 2003. The Spring treatments: farmyard manure, municipal compost and NPK fertiliser were applied to their designated squares in early May 2004 just after the local farmers had applied their spring treatments to their fields.

We hope the findings will clearly reveal what we have been demonstrating in the SEER Centre Gardens - that rock dust improves the quantity and quality of produce - in this case grass. Hopefully the research results can be used nationally, and perhaps even internationally, to persuade farmers that rockdust is a commercially viable alternative to chemical fertilisers.