The use of crushed glass to improve soil fertility

In Brisbane, production of an agricultural product based on recycled glass bottles has been launched. The recycling process takes place at a 4-million-dollar facility, where raw material is ground in a 60-tonne ceramic drum using ceramic balls. The output is a powder resembling talc or dry granules. Every week, the plant ships up to 20 tonnes of such products to farms growing apples, grapes, grain, sugar cane, as well as for dairy and meat livestock.

Agronomist David Archer explains that the material's effectiveness is due to its high silicon content. This chemical component strengthens the plant's natural protection, increasing their resistance to pests, diseases, and drought. Furthermore, silicon releases "locked" elements from the soil, such as phosphates, making them available to the root system. This allows farmers to reduce the application rates of traditional fertilizer. A positive impact on soil microflora is also noted, in particular on the activity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Practical experience with the technology demonstrates significant results. Farm manager Tony Donovan, working in collaboration with Peter Norwood, applied the silicon powder to a third of his total 14,000-hectare holdings. According to observations, the daily weight gain of livestock during the winter period increased from 0.7–0.8 kg to 1.4–2 kg. At the same time, the use of silicon has become one of the methods allowing farms to reduce their dependence on imported nitrogen fertilizer — urea, especially against the backdrop of rising prices and disruptions in international supply chains.