4 research outputs found
Enhanced weathering in the U.S. Corn Belt delivers carbon removal with agronomic benefits
Enhanced weathering (EW) with crushed basalt on farmlands is a promising
scalable atmospheric carbon dioxide removal strategy that urgently requires
performance assessment with commercial farming practices. Our large-scale
replicated EW field trial in the heart of the U.S. Corn Belt shows cumulative
time-integrated carbon sequestration of 15.4 +/- 4.1 t CO2 ha-1 over four
years, with additional emissions mitigation of ~0.1 - 0.4 t CO2,e ha-1 yr-1 for
soil nitrous oxide, a potent long-lived greenhouse gas. Maize and soybean
yields increased 12-16% with EW following improved soil fertility, decreased
soil acidification, and upregulation of root nutrient transport genes. Our
findings suggest that widespread adoption of EW across farming sectors has the
potential to contribute significantly to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions
goals and global food and soil security
Enhanced weathering in the US Corn Belt delivers carbon removal with agronomic benefits
Terrestrial enhanced weathering (EW) of silicate rocks, such as crushed basalt, on farmlands is a promising scalable atmospheric carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategy that urgently requires performance assessment with commercial farming practices. We report findings from a large-scale replicated EW field trial across a typical maize-soybean rotation on an experimental farm in the heart of the United Sates Corn Belt over 4 y (2016 to 2020). We show an average combined loss of major cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) from crushed basalt applied each fall over 4 y (50 t ha−1 y−1) gave a conservative time-integrated cumulative CDR potential of 10.5 ± 3.8 t CO2 ha−1. Maize and soybean yields increased significantly (P < 0.05) by 12 to 16% with EW following improved soil fertility, decreased soil acidification, and upregulation of root nutrient transport genes. Yield enhancements with EW were achieved with significantly (P < 0.05) increased key micro- and macronutrient concentrations (including potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc), thus improving or maintaining crop nutritional status. We observed no significant increase in the content of trace metals in grains of maize or soybean or soil exchangeable pools relative to controls. Our findings suggest that widespread adoption of EW across farming sectors has the potential to contribute significantly to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals while simultaneously improving food and soil security
A genomics approach to identify effectors in Rhynchosporium commune essential for pathogenicity on barley
Enhanced weathering in the US Corn Belt delivers carbon removal with agronomic benefits
Terrestrial enhanced weathering (EW) of silicate rocks, such as crushed basalt, on farmlands is a promising scalable atmospheric carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategy that urgently requires performance assessment with commercial farming practices. We report findings from a large-scale replicated EW field trial across a typical maize-soybean rotation on an experimental farm in the heart of the United Sates Corn Belt over 4 y (2016 to 2020). We show an average combined loss of major cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) from crushed basalt applied each fall over 4 y (50 t ha-1 y-1) gave a conservative time-integrated cumulative CDR potential of 10.5 ± 3.8 t CO2 ha-1. Maize and soybean yields increased significantly (P < 0.05) by 12 to 16% with EW following improved soil fertility, decreased soil acidification, and upregulation of root nutrient transport genes. Yield enhancements with EW were achieved with significantly (P < 0.05) increased key micro- and macronutrient concentrations (including potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and zinc), thus improving or maintaining crop nutritional status. We observed no significant increase in the content of trace metals in grains of maize or soybean or soil exchangeable pools relative to controls. Our findings suggest that widespread adoption of EW across farming sectors has the potential to contribute significantly to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals while simultaneously improving food and soil security.</p