New Delhi: A new study has revealed that enhanced rock weathering contributed to a 9.3 – 20.5 per cent higher crop yield and increased crop resilience to future climate challenges.
The study was conducted by scientists at UNDO, a leading enhanced rock weathering project developer, and Newcastle University, the
peer-reviewed publication, assessing the impact on crops in a temperate climate.
According to a new scientific paper, released in PLOS ONE enhanced rock weathering (ERW) involves spreading finely crushed silicate rock such as basalt on agricultural land.
It is a scalable and permanent climate technology with the potential to sequester gigatonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Commenting on the paper, Dr XinRan Liu, Head of Science and Research at UNDO said “Nutrient limitations in agricultural soils are a major concern for farmers with sustaining and increasing crop yields. This latest study highlights how the spreading of basalt rock on farmland can lead to higher crop yields and can be effective in a temperate climate.
“This research demonstrates the potential for enhanced rock weathering to contribute to improved farmer livelihoods and food production, whilst also removing CO2 from the atmosphere” he further added.
The results from the ongoing trial’s first year demonstrate that the crop yield was on average 15% higher (9.3% and 20.5% between ploughed and direct drill amended plots respectively) across two different cultivation techniques.
The trial results also showed a stabilising effect on the soil pH, with the soil pH being on average 0.2 and 0.29 pH units higher in the basalt-amended plots, compared to the control plots. This change is a result of alkaline products generated as the rock minerals dissolve.
The effect of silicate mineral dissolution on the soil pH could represent an attractive agronomic benefit for farmers as an elevated soil pH allows crops to access more nutrients in the soil.
Basalt rock is rich in minerals that slowly release nutrients during dissolution. These nutrients act as a natural soil amendment and are essential for plant growth.
Professor David Manning, Professor of Soil Science, Newcastle University, and co-author of the paper, commented: “The results of this trial give further scientific credibility for enhanced rock weathering and greatly improve its value proposition to farmers. Newcastle University is pleased to partner with UNDO.
“Our joint research into the co-benefits for farmers of basalt amendment is helping to pave the way for the widespread adoption of enhanced rock weathering in the agricultural community” he added.
The study showed that the trial results also showed no additional toxic elements taken up by crops in the plots where basalt had been spread.
There was no negative impact on the natural environment in this trial, which indicates the food produced from it is safe for consumption.
“Use of enhanced rock weathering to remove carbon dioxide and naturally enhance soil health represents a potential win-win for farmers and climate as this technology can capture carbon dioxide while simultaneously supplying some of the key nutrients that crops require for successful growth” Yit Arn Teh, Professor of Soil Science, Newcastle University, said.
