Russian aluminum giant begins trials of silica-based fertilizer
MOSCOW, April 22. /TASS/. Rusal, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers, has started tests of a fundamentally new silica-based fertilizer in its agricultural company.
Silica fume will partly replace NPK fertilizers on experimental plots, and its use may significantly reduce expenses of agricultural producers on account of the lower cost as compared to traditional NPK fertilizers, Rusal informed.
Silica fume tests will kick off during the spring sowing campaign in an estate of Rusal AgroSibir company in Khakassia. Forty-five demo fields were allocated for the experiment, with 15 for each of peas, wheat, and rapeseed, and with testing of various combinations comprising micro silica and traditional NPK fertilizers, the company noted.
"The silica fume was not widely used as a fertilizer before. Research activities and laboratory tests preceded the start of our experiment. We set a goal to have crop yield remaining at a previous level or becoming higher when replacing at least 20% of NPK fertilizers by the silica fume," Deputy CEO of Rusal Alexey Arnautov said. Micro silica is a byproduct in silicon production of Rusal and will therefore cost much cheaper than traditional NPK fertilizers when used as such, he added.
Rusal is the sole Russian producer of silicon for the metals industry.
