Indian agri scientists find value in the use of iron ore tailings in farming

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Initial experiments carried out by ICAR-IARI with tailings from ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel show higher yield, lower use of fertilizers

By Subramani Ra Mancombu

Updated - October 30, 2026 at 09:31 PM. | Chennai

Paddy being grown on soil mixed with iron ore tailings at an ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel site - Photo supplied by AMNS

“We will not see people calling iron ore tailings a waste anymore, and they will be thinking of converting them into value-added products and making money out of waste,” says Bhupinder Singh, Principal Scientist and Principal Investigator at ICAR-IARI (Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agriculture Research Institute).

Singh, who has been in agriculture research for over three-and-a-half decades, knows his onions. 

His statement comes on the heels of a promising development with ICAR-IARI signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS) to conduct long-term research on the use of iron ore tailings in agriculture. 

Bhupinder Singh, Principal Scientist and Principal Investigator at ICAR-IARI

Long-term pact

Preliminary studies, done since 2024, have shown encouraging results of the use of iron ore tailings in the cultivation of paddy, wheat, and vegetables such as brinjal (eggplant) and lady’s finger (okra or bhindi). Results showed that the crop’s yield improved by 10-15 per cent, while use of chemical fertilizers was 20 per cent lower. 

The signing of the long-term MoU comes after both organisations carried out studies for two years from 2024. The long-term MoU, which will run till 2029, will enable large-scale trials at ICAR-IARI and AMNS sites. 

“In the second phase, we propose to work with different crops -cereals, oilseeds, non-edible flowers, tubers, particularly potato and vegetables. We can try agroforestry too by applying the tailings without affecting the soil quality,” he said.

Tails’ valourisation

The ICAR-IARI team first checked if valorisation of iron ore tailings from AMNS was feasible. Valorisation is turning mining waste into valuable secondary resources, reducing environmental hazards. Iron ore tailings cannot be applied directly to the soil since it may pollute it with other metals or even make it iron heavy. 

“We used different organic amendments to reduce the total iron content of the tailings,” said Singh in an online interaction with businessline.

Singh’s team characterised iron ore tailings received from AMNS. The team found that they did not have any toxic heavy metals. “We characterised 6 batches. which were collected at different time intervals, because we wanted to be sure that our results are not based on one-time analysis,” he said. 

It found the tailings rich in iron. “If the tailings are valorised, we can enrich them further with the various other macro and micronutrients. Based on the first phase, we have now entered into a long-term partnership with AMNS which will be on until 2029,” said Singh.

Human nutrition

The valorised tailings are rich in iron, calcium, magnesium and many other elements which are required by the plants. Almost 12 per cent of cultivable lands in the country are iron deficient, and 49 per cent of soils are zinc deficient. 

From the human nutrition point of view, the ICAR-IARI and AMNS project is trying to improve iron and zinc content in the crop, including through biofortification. “If a person requires to take iron daily, the crop will take care of dietary requirement,” he said. 

The scientists’ team use biological consortia, a mix of bacteria and fungi which have the property of nutrient solubilisation. This is because most of the nutrients in the tailings are in oxide forms which are less soluble. 

“We need to ensure that their availability is improved. We use different iron-solubilising bacteria which promote growth, chelating iron and zinc so that their uptake by the plant is ensured,” said Singh.

Trails in pots 

Experiments were conducted at the AMNS site, which has continuously been exposed to aerial precipitation of iron ore tailings.

“We planned some experiments at the AMNS site with different levels of iron ore tailings starting from 5-50 per cent of iron ore tailings mixed with soil. We have raised a few crops there until now, and we also tried some other products. Our results so far have been good,” said the ICAR-IARI principal scientist. 

For two seasons, experiments at the AMNS site in Chhattisgarh were conducted with paddy. The team also tried brinjal and lady’s finger. “We have tried wheat in pots because we thought of not adding more, as many were sceptical,” he said.

Enviornment impact assessment

Experiments at the AMNS site were on tiny plots. In the second phase, experiments will be carried out on ICAR-IARI pilots well, where the leaching behaviour of the tailings will be examined. “It will be a total environment impact assessment,” said Singh, adding that one of his students is doing a PhD programme working on the tailings impact on wheat and spinach. 

ICAR-IARI conducted initial experiments in pots, working on a 600 kg per hectare formula, to ensure that if it takes it to the field, there will be no contamination. It was after this that the team decided to conduct its trials on AMNS sites. 

He said tailings will be used in agriculture only after biological, physical and chemical valorisation. Physical processing will ensure proper mixing. 

ICAR-IARI and AMNS would like to showcase this development to farmers, particularly around the latter’s sites. 

Other focus issues

During the second phase of the project, the focus will also be on addressing iron deficiency in soil and biofortification, he said, adding that large-scale trials will begin from November on ICAR-IARI plots.

“In addition, we will be conducting trials in Chhattisgarh, which is an organic state. We will use organic amendments of the tailings basically and avoid using any chemical,” said the ICAR-IARI scientist. 

The trials will begin with batches of 10-20 farmers, maybe one or two farmers in each village, covering 10 villages.

Published on October 30, 2026

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