Basalt - Natural energy for 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 soil’s paramagnetism and, therefore, the microfauna.

Basalt contains trace elements that provide vitamins to soil microorganisms, as is the case with cobalt. The silica present in this rock increases plants’ resistance to bioaggressors and drought. “By adding basalt, we can revitalize soil fauna,” explains Claire Boisleux, farmer and agricultural contractor.

A rock with paramagnetic properties “By adding basalt to the soil, our main goal is to act on the soil rather than on the plants,” Claire Boisleux clarifies. This volcanic rock contains paramagnetic particles that help soil life develop. “The more paramagnetic a soil is, the more life there is,” she says. “Each soil organism establishes its role thanks to this phenomenon that orients 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 harvest. 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 movement power of the elements in the soil. It is expressed in centimeters grams/second (CGS).

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

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

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

“The ideal is to add it over vegetation or cover crops. The soil temperature must be at least 12 °C to activate soil life and prevent it from going dormant,” advises Claire Boisleux. Since soil life is concentrated in the first few centimeters, burying the basalt is not relevant. Microorganisms are able to quickly capture the elements from the rock. “To avoid losses and stimulate soil life from the moment of spreading, we apply the 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. We should not expect an immediate visible result.”

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