Crushed glass instead of fertilizers – farmers surprised by results

Australian farmers have begun using crushed glass as a fertilizer. The silicon-based material is applied to the soil to strengthen plants' resistance to drought and disease. Production has been established in Brisbane. Preliminary results show a potential increase in crop yields of 25–30% and an increase in livestock weight gain.

Australian farmers have started using crushed glass as a fertilizer, aiming to boost crop yields. Recycled bottles are turned into a fine powder or granules, which are applied to the soil and used on pastures. The basis of this unusual fertilizer is silicon, which experts believe may strengthen plants' natural resistance to drought, disease, and pests, as well as affect phosphorus availability in the soil. Production of this material has already been scaled up industrially in Brisbane at a facility costing about 4 million Australian dollars. The plant produces approximately 20 tons of product per week. The new approach is being tested on grain crops, grapes, apples, and sugarcane, as well as on dairy and beef cattle farms. Agronomist Peter Norwood notes that the material may accelerate plant development and potentially increase yields by 25–30%. Farmer Tony Donovan, whose farms cover about 14,000 hectares, reported that after treatment with the glass material, the average daily weight gain of cattle during the winter period increased from about 0.7–0.8 kg to 1.4–2 kg. Experts caution against viewing the initial results as definitive proof, as large-scale independent studies are still lacking. Crushed glass is currently seen more as a promising method of waste recycling and an additional source of silicon, rather than a full replacement for fertilizers.