Why farmers are spreading crushed glass on their crops

A novel approach is emerging in Australian agriculture, with farmers increasingly turning to pulverized glass to revitalize their soils and boost crop yields. This innovative practice, utilizing recycled glass, is showing promising results in enhancing plant productivity and livestock health.

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There could be as much as 25 or 30 per cent improvements in plant growth and plant productivity.

Agronomists like Peter Norwood in Victoria are recommending the Queensland-made organic product to their clients, reporting potential improvements of 25% to 30% in plant growth. The benefits extend to livestock, with expectations of greater milk production in dairy animals and increased daily weight gain in beef and sheep.

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We've got the potential for greater milk production, and in beef and sheep, we've got potential for greater daily body weight gain.

The process involves grinding recycled glass bottles into fine, agricultural-grade particles at a new factory in Brisbane. This waste material, sourced from recycling programs, is transformed into a silicon-rich product. Farmers apply this powder, which resembles talc, either by mixing it with water and spraying it on plants or by spreading dry granules.

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This is a bit of a game changer.

David Archer, a co-owner of the factory, explained that silicon, a key component of glass, plays a crucial role. It strengthens plants' natural defenses, acting like an immune system to protect them against pests, diseases, and drought. Furthermore, the silicon helps unlock essential nutrients in the soil that are otherwise unavailable to plants, such as iron, by separating it from phosphates. This not only improves soil health but also reduces the need for farmers to apply as much fertilizer, as they can better utilize nutrients already present.

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Like most great ideas it was by accident, we were fiddling around with some glass material many moons ago, threw some in, and it was like Jack and the Beanstalk.