![]() The dissolution of rock flour in the soil can be influenced by the composition of the soil solution and by plant actions, as well as by many factors such as climate, temperature, changes in pH in the rhizosphere, and redox and chelation by organic acids. ![]() Plant nutrients, with the exception of nitrogen, are ultimately derived from the weathering of primary minerals. Among them, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), boron (B), and sulfur (S) play fundamental roles as structural components magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), and nickel (Ni) as cofactors for enzymes potassium (K), sodium (Na), and chlorine (Cl) as electrolytes and calcium (Ca) as messengers in signaling cascades. To complete their life cycle and produce yields, plants require 16 essential nutrients, including macro- and micronutrients. When rock meal is used as a source of nutrients for plant growth and development, plants are not passive recipients but active participants in the process, either by dissolving minerals directly or by maintaining the diversity of weathering microorganisms in the rhizosphere. ![]() Therefore, although the release of elements by silicate weathering is the original source of mineral nutrients in soil, the direct use of rock meal in conventional agriculture is limited, and its agronomic efficacy and economic benefits have not been conclusively demonstrated. ![]() However, most silicate rocks have low nutrient release rates under laboratory conditions, and their composition of quartz, plagioclase, mica, and feldspar varies widely and generally contains large amounts of elements that are not essential for plant nutrition. Powders of andesite and dacite are good substitutes for soluble fertilizers because of their high mineral dissolution rates, and some montmorillonite-rich volcanic ashes can increase the cation exchange capacity of poor soils. Improving soils with ground rocks is an ancient practice, as shown by limestone and gypsum for liming and apatite as phosphorus fertilizer. Meanwhile, mining operations generate about 7–17 billion tons of rock dust and byproducts from quarries annually, low-cost rock dust has been identified as a potential alternative to artificial fertilizers for more sustainable agriculture. To reverse this trend and increase soil fertility, nutrients in soils must be replenished. The increasing overexploitation of soil worldwide, especially in developing countries, is leading to a decline in the quantity and quality of soil and thus to soil degradation. Our data indicate that plants can recognize and adapt to complex mineral deficiency by adjusting hormonal homeostasis to achieve environmental sensitivity and developmental plasticity, which provide a basis for ecologically sound and sustainable strategies to maximize the use of natural resources and reduce the production of artificial fertilizers. Unexpectedly, the addition of N to marlstone negatively affected seedling growth, which was associated with repressed auxin biosynthesis in roots. When nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were supplied individually, N proved most effective in improving fresh weight of seedlings growing on basalt and granite, whereas K, followed by P, was most effective for those growing on marlstone. Simultaneous supply of organic nutrients and trace elements increased fresh weight due to the increased length of primary roots and root hairs. ResultsĬompared to ½ MS medium, basalt and granite meal increased primary root length by 13% and 38%, respectively, but marlstone caused a 66% decrease, and they all drastically reduced initiation and elongation of lateral roots but lengthened root hairs. Considering low-cost rock dust has been identified as a potential alternative to artificial fertilizers for more sustainable agriculture, the growth responses of Arabidopsis seedlings on three rock meals (basalt, granite, and marlstone) were examined for the different foraging behavior, biomass accumulation, and root architecture. Plants show developmental plasticity with variations in environmental nutrients.
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