Scientists boost yields by sprinkling CO2-capturing rock dust on fields
The application of crushed rock to farmers' fields may not only reduce greenhouse gases, it could also boost crop yields by up to 16%. These are the findings of a new study conducted by scientists from the University of Sheffield’s Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation.
The research actually builds on a previous U Sheffield study that we heard about back in 2020. At that time, scientists were analyzing the effectiveness of a technique known as enhanced rock weathering.
In their natural state, rocks naturally absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide as they break down in the environment. The greater the number of pieces they break down into, the greater the total surface area available for carbon sequestration, and thus the greater the amount of CO2 that can be absorbed.
Most rocks take a long time to fall into small pieces on their own, however. Additionally, in order for all those pieces to absorb CO2, they have to be laid out across a large area where they're all exposed to the atmosphere. That's where enhanced rock weathering comes in.
