--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20260818-local-african-rocks-could-offer-a-new-source-of-potassium-fertilizer/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # Local African rocks could offer a new source of potassium fertilizer Publication Date: 2026-08-18T13:00:00-04:00 Last Updated: 2026-08-16T04:13:15-04:00 Author: Editors (https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/author/fertilizereditors/) Categories: [AgTech & Research](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/agtech-and-research/), [Phosphate](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/phosphate/) ![Local African rocks could offer a new source of potassium fertilizer](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2.jpeg) Researchers in Morocco have developed a process to unlock potassium from locally available syenite rocks, potentially reducing African farmers’ reliance on imported potash. Researchers in Morocco have developed a process that could turn locally available potassium-rich rocks into a fertilizer alternative to conventional potash. The team, led by Abdellatif Elghali of Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, used chemical and heat treatment to make potassium in syenite rocks more soluble and accessible to crops. Potash remains the dominant source of potassium fertilizer, but much of the world’s production is concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, including Canada, Russia and Germany. For African farmers, reliance on imported fertilizer can increase costs and expose supplies to disruptions. Researchers also say conventional potassium salts can be highly soluble, resulting in nutrient losses through leaching and contributing to soil salinity because of their chlorine content. [![](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/3-768x1024.jpeg)](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/3.jpeg)Granulated NPK fertilizer produced from treated syenite blended with mono-/diammonium phosphates. Image Credits: Canadian Light Source The Moroccan team crushed the rocks, treated them with water and alkaline or acidic agents, and heated the mixture to just below 200°C. Laboratory tests found that the modified material released potassium and calcium rapidly at first and then more gradually, while also supplying silicon and magnesium. Corn and soybean plants were able to absorb the nutrients at levels comparable to those achieved with conventional potash fertilizer. Synchrotron analyses at the Canadian Light Source helped researchers determine how the treatment altered the minerals and released potassium. The findings were [published in *Minerals Engineering*](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2026.110494). The researchers now plan larger field trials to assess the fertilizer’s performance at commercial scale and determine whether the production process can be made sufficiently simple and cost-effective. If successful, the technology could provide African farmers with a locally sourced potassium fertilizer and reduce dependence on imported mineral inputs. Tags: [Africa](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/africa/), [Morocco](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/morocco/), [phosphate rock](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/phosphate-rock/), [potash fertilizers](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/potash-fertilizers/), [research](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/research/), [soil analysis](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/soil-analysis/), [study](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/study/) --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.