Evaluation of Agronomic Efficiency with Regional Source of Natural Potassium in the Brazilian Midwest

Abstract

Brazil plays an important role in global food production, but faces challenges due to its dependence on imported fertilizers. To reduce this vulnerability of the agricultural sector, the use of natural sources such as agrominerals, also known as rock dust, is gaining ground. The objective of this study was to characterize and evaluate a new source of natural potassium, extracted from a deposit located in the Brazilian Midwest, through geological characterization and agronomic evaluation through yield tests, soil and foliar potassium content. The tests were conducted in a greenhouse with seven treatments, two soil types and four replications, with millet, soybeans and beans in succession to evaluate the residual effect of the product. The agromineral was classified as a nepheline syenite saprolite with an average K2O content of 11.6%. The effects of the agromineral were promising, especially in the medium term. In the case of beans, at the standard dose of 60 K2O, yields in clay soils were 3.6 Mg ha-1 higher than in the 60 KCl treatment, which obtained only 2.3 Mg ha-1, probably due to absorption or leaching losses, since the effect evaluated was residual in nature. For all the crops evaluated, the agromineral showed an increase in potassium levels in both the soil and the leaves compared to the control group, indicating that it is a potential alternative to gradually reduce the use of traditional chemical fertilizers. Field trials are recommended to validate these benefits, taking into account more realistic environmental variations.