At the recent National Recycling Awards 2011, 4Recycling Ltd (part of the 4R Group) won Best Recycled Product for their innovative new agricultural fertiliser replacement product, Potassic Lime, which is made by blending waste by-products from the cement and water industries, offering significant environmental and financial benefits.

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The development of Potassic Lime was a direct response to a 2007 request to seek alternative and commercial beneficial uses for a waste product from cement manufacture that was being landfilled. Analysis by 4R’s specialist consultants identified its potential for commercial use in agriculture as a direct replacement for agricultural ground limestone and potassium fertiliser. Following rigorous research and product development, production was scaled up in 2010 with sales of c. 20,000 tonnes this year. 

Lime, Potash and Sulphur

Potassic Lime is used in place of virgin products and chemical fertilisers, offering farmers and growers a proven and highly cost effective alternative material for the supply of lime, potash, sulphur and trace elements, with clear benefits in terms of crop performance and soil conditioning.

Potassic Lime contains potash and sulphur in crop available forms, it also has the ability to release nutrient over a period of time as the insoluble fractions mineralises within the soil. The liming activity offers fast, effective pH correction, as well as longer term activity due to calcium forms present as hydroxide and carbonate. The product is a light brown, free flowing material of consistently small particle size, aiding nutrient release and liming efficiency.

Simon Sturrock, from Bryn Farm, Caernarfon, N Wales, commented "Where Potassic Lime has been used on our farm we have seen some very good responses, especially on some of the poorer grassland. Cereal crops look much healthier and are performing better than neighbouring crops where more traditional lime and nutrient applications were made."

Wider benefits of Potassic lime include saving valuable natural resources, reducing the carbon footprint of agriculture through reduced energy consumption in product manufacture and application, and large cost savings through diverting waste from landfill.

For more information click here to see their website.