Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Design and Construction of an Experimental Setup to Enhance Mineral Weathering through the Activity of Soil Organisms
Published on: November 10, 2023
Mining by-products and circular economy: improving soil health and carbon stocks through rock dust application
Raissa Razera1, Bruna Emanuele Schiebelbein1, Victória Santos Souza1
1Department of Soil Science, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ), University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
Abstract:
Mining by-products are an underutilized resource with strong potential for soil restoration within a circular economy. However, the combined effects of claying and remineralization on soil health remain unclear. We evaluated sedimentary rock powder (applied for claying at low [LC] and high [HC] rates), mafic rock dust (remineralization, R), and their combination (C + R) in a degraded tropical sandy pasture soil. After 18 months, soil (0-20 cm) was analyzed using the Soil Management Assessment Framework, integrating chemical, physical, and biological indicators into a soil health index (SHI). The LC + R treatment showed the best performance, increasing SHI by 22% and soil organic carbon by 17% compared to the control. Improvements were driven by chemical and biological indicators, while physical attributes showed limited change. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed treatment differentiation. Results demonstrate rapid soil response to mineral amendments, highlighting their potential as regenerative inputs for climate-resilient agriculture and circular economy strategies.
Related Concept Videos
The Soil Ecosystem
Soil Microbial Ecology
Microbial Leaching
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Acid Mine Drainage
Bioremediation

