UK scientists have published research suggesting that adding silicate rocks to crop soil can help reduce levels of CO2 in the atmosphere while also releasing plant-essential nutrients. The researchers at the University of Sheffield's Leverhulme Centre for Climate Mitigation carried out a study involving adding crushed silicate rocks such as basalt into the soil. These considerations could make it straight forward to adopt. They found that by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide released from the rocks, they could increase the rate of photosynthesis and thus improve food production. Arable farmers already apply crushed limestone to the soil to reduce acidification, therefore replacing limestone with crushed silicate rocks would have significant environmental benefits.
UK scientists have published research suggesting that adding silicate rocks to crop soil can help reduce levels of CO2 in the atmosphere while also releasing plant-essential nutrients. The researchers at the University of Sheffield's Leverhulme Centre for Climate Mitigation carried out a study involving adding crushed silicate rocks such as basalt into the soil. They found that by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide released from the rocks, they could increase the rate of photosynthesis and thus improve food production. Arable farmers already apply crushed limestone to the soil to reduce acidification, therefore replacing limestone with crushed silicate rocks would have significant environmental benefits.