ICAR-IARI trials show iron ore tailings boost crop yields and cut fertilizer use in agriculture

Key facts

• ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI) signed a long-term memorandum of understanding with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS), running until 2029, for research on using iron ore tailings in agriculture.
• Preliminary studies since 2024 showed crop yields improved by 10-15 per cent and chemical fertilizer use fell by 20 per cent in paddy, wheat, brinjal and lady's finger cultivation with valorised iron ore tailings.
• The team characterised six batches of AMNS iron ore tailings and found them free of toxic heavy metals but rich in iron.
• Experiments at the AMNS site in Chhattisgarh used soil mixed with 5-50 per cent iron ore tailings, with paddy trials run for two seasons and wheat tested in pots.
• Scientists used biological consortia of iron-solubilising bacteria and fungi, since tailings nutrients are mostly in less-soluble oxide forms, to improve uptake of iron and zinc by plants.
• Nearly 12 per cent of India's cultivable land is iron deficient and 49 per cent of soils are zinc deficient; the project aims to improve iron and zinc content in crops through biofortification.
• Initial pot experiments used a 600 kg per hectare formula, and large-scale trials on ICAR-IARI plots were set to begin from November, including farmer trials in 10 villages in Chhattisgarh using organic amendments.