Rock Dust
Definition - What does Rock Dust mean?
Rock dust mainly consists of finely crushed rock that has been processed either by natural or mechanical means. It is widely used in organic farming practices because it helps to create fertile soils by returning the minerals to the soil that have been lost by overgrazing, leaching, or soil erosion. Rock dust increases the soil’s moisture holding properties, improves the soil structure and drainage, and also improves the soil’s cation exchange potential.
Rock dust may also be known as rock minerals, soil remineralization, stonemeal, mineral fines, rock powder, and rock flour.
MaximumYield explains Rock Dust
While rock dust has several advantages, it should not be considered a replacement for fertilizer because it lacks the qualifying levels of phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen (three elements necessary to maintain good soil health).
Various rock dust products have a different mineral content depending on the type of rock they came from. For example, limestone has low levels of micronutrients and minerals, whereas granite and igneous rock basalts have the highest mineral content. The SEER (Sustainable Ecological Earth Regeneration) center in Scotland as well as the James Cook University has proven that adding rock dust helps to increase the fertility level of the soil.
