The potential for glacial flour to impact soil fertility, crop yield and nutrition in mountain regions

Abstract

Novel sustainable agricultural strategies that enhance soil nutrients and human nutrition are crucial for meeting global food production needs. Here, we evaluate the potential of “glacial flour”, a naturally crushed rock produced by glaciers known to be rich in nutrients (P, K, and micronutrients) needed for plant growth. Our proof-of-concept study, investigated soybean (Glycine max. var. Black jet) growth, yield and nutrient content with soil supplementation from glacial flour sourced from Himalayan glaciers (meta-sediment gneiss bedrock) and Icelandic glaciers (basaltic bedrock). Glacial flour treatment enhanced crop yields by 85 % (Himalayan) and 135 % (Icelandic), compared to controls. Additionally, glacial flour fortified crops with beneficial micronutrients zinc and selenium. However, the application of Himalayan flour led to arsenic bioaccumulation in the crop, underscoring the importance of catchment geology. This study supports using glacial flour as a soil remediation strategy for sustainable agriculture but emphasizes the need to consider potential toxicity risks.