Projects

Spreading finely ground rock on soil accelerates the chemical reactions between rocks, water and air in a process known as enhanced rock weathering (ERW).  Importantly this reaction removes carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and it has huge potential for large-scale atmospheric CO₂ removal.  Spreading ground basaltic rocks on agricultural soils has the added benefits of reducing excess soil acidity (pH) which could increase nutrient uptake and boost crop yields on underperforming croplands, supplying fertilizer-based macronutrients Phosphorous and Potassium (P&K) which could reduce reliance on expensive fertilizers and fortifying staple crops such as cereals and fodder crops with important micronutrients for human and animal health. These benefits go some way toward supporting the increased agricultural production that is required in the UK and globally, to meet the demands of a growing human population whilst contributing to our Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 target and mitigating climate change.

The project aims to:

• investigate the change in soil elemental composition, with and without ERW
• evidence the enhanced weathering process
• quantify the release of elements from basalt to the soil and determine the bioavailability of these elements in the soil and to plants
• assess whether ERW may have negative impacts such as potentially toxic element (PTE) contamination

The project will provide the empirical evidence that could prove transformative in acceptance of ERW technology in mitigating climate change and allow refinement of carbon cycling/climate change modelling, whilst delivering practical benefits to UNDO and the agricultural sector more broadly.

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Funded by: CoSE UofG

First published: 13 October 2023