Basalt - Natural energy at the service of agriculture - Paramagnetism

Basalt is a volcanic rock found beneath the Earth's mantle. According to those who use it, this rock has properties that affect the paramagnetism of the soil and, therefore, the microfauna.

Basalt contains trace elements that provide vitamins to soil microorganisms, such as cobalt. The silica present in this rock increases the resistance of plants against bioaggressors and drought. "With the addition of basalt, we can revitalize the fauna of the soil," explains Claire Boisleux, farmer and agricultural work entrepreneur.

A rock with paramagnetic properties "When adding basalt to the ground, our main objective is to act on the soil instead of the plants," clarifies Claire Boisleux. This volcanic rock contains paramagnetic particles that help life in the soil to develop. "The more paramagnetic a soil is, the more life there is," he says. "Each soil organism establishes its role thanks to this phenomenon that guides it and keeps it alive." This paramagnetism also affects the soil's ability to retain water and therefore its fertility. "Unless specific unforeseen events occur, the more fertile a soil is, the more productive the crop is. In reality, everything is connected."

Each soil reacts differently to a magnetic field. This capacity is measured with a device called PCSM (Phil Callahan Soil Meter), named after its inventor. The number obtained indicates the power of movement of the elements on the ground. It is expressed in centimeters grams/second (CGS).

The greater the number, the more mobile elements soil microorganisms have available to feed and develop. "Each soil contains its own paramagnetism," explains the farmer. "It contributes to the productivity of crops. This paramagnetism must be maintained so that the soil can, in the long term, produce with fewer inputs."

Visible effects on the soil after several years of contributions The dose of basalt added to the soil depends on several parameters. The farmer must analyze the paramagnetism of his soil and the basalt to be distributed.

Depending on its origin, basalt can be more or less charged. For example, a basalt dosed at more than 3,000 CGS will spread between 400 and 600 kg/ha/year, depending on the paramagnetism of the soil considered. However, it is important to be careful with the amount of silica this represents. In too high concentrations, it acts like a magnifying glass, especially on bare soil, and can burn microorganisms.

"The ideal is to add it to vegetation or cover planting. The soil temperature should be at least 12 °C to activate the life of the soil and prevent it from going into dormancy," advises Claire Boisleux. As the life of the soil is concentrated in the first centimeters, the burial of basalt is not relevant. Microorganisms are capable of quickly capturing elements from the rock. "To avoid losses and energize soil life from the moment of dispersion, we apply basalt and microorganisms simultaneously to stimulate the life already present in the soil. The effects of basalt dust are visible after seven to ten years. No we should expect a visible result immediately."

Paramagnetic value of a soil: According to Dr. Callahan's research, a soil is considered:

• Poor from 0 to +100 CGS
• Good from +100 to +300 CGS
• Very good from +300 to +700 CGS
• Higher from +700 to +1200 CGS
• Volcanic rock beyond +1200 CGS.