Spread of Crushed Basalt on Fields Could Remove Carbon Dioxide and Boost Crop Yields
The method of spreading crushed silicate rocks like basalt on fields has the potential to remove up to 1.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, while also increasing crop yields. This technique, known as enhanced rock weathering, accelerates the breakdown of rocks by rainwater, a natural process that has played a crucial role in transferring CO2 from the atmosphere to the ocean over millions of years, ultimately helping to cool the planet during hothouse-Earth periods. Farmers have long been spreading ground limestone on fields to enhance nutrient uptake in crops.
Chuan Liao, a researcher at Cornell University in New York, explains that the primary benefit of enhanced rock weathering is the chemical reactions that help in solving atmospheric CO2 levels. Additionally, the process provides side benefits such as adding magnesium and calcium to supplement soil nutrients. As global emissions continue to rise, the United Nations climate body has emphasized the need for carbon removal to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Countries like Brazil have already started promoting enhanced rock weathering to reduce both emissions and fertiliser costs.
Atmospheric CO2 dissolves in rainwater to form carbonic acid, which reacts with silicon dioxide and metals in silicate rocks to store CO2 as bicarbonate ions. The bicarbonate is then washed into rivers and the ocean, where it can remain dissolved for thousands of years or become incorporated into the calcium carbonate structures of marine organisms. By crushing the rocks, more surface area is exposed to rain, thereby enhancing the removal of CO2.
Studies have projected that enhanced rock weathering could potentially draw down 5 billion tonnes of CO2 per year by the end of this century. However, a recent analysis by Liao and his team suggests that the technique could realistically remove 350 million to 750 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2050 and 700 million to 1.1 billion tonnes per year by 2100. This would be a significant step towards offsetting the global fossil fuel CO2 emissions, which totaled around 38 billion tonnes in 2025.
While Europe and North America are expected to lead in carbon removal initially, regions like Asia, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa could surpass them as supply chains for silicate rocks are established and costs decrease. The speed of weathering increases in regions with higher temperatures and precipitation, allowing farmers to potentially sell more carbon-removal credits per tonne of rock spread.
However, some researchers, like Marcus Schiedung from the Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Germany, have raised concerns about the uncertainties surrounding enhanced rock weathering. Factors such as soil pH, rainfall patterns, and mining processes could impact the effectiveness of carbon removal. Schiedung cautions that the estimated 1.1 billion tonnes of carbon removal may be overstated and highlights the potential risks of releasing toxins into the food supply through the use of certain types of rocks like olivine, which contain heavy metals.
Additionally, the logistics of sourcing large quantities of basalt rocks needed for enhanced rock weathering pose a challenge. David Manning from Newcastle University in the UK points out that opening numerous basalt quarries to meet the demand for rock could be a costly and time-consuming process. This presents a major obstacle to the widespread adoption and scaling up of enhanced rock weathering as a viable carbon removal solution.
In conclusion, while enhanced rock weathering shows promise in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and improving crop yields, there are significant challenges and uncertainties that need to be addressed before this technique can be widely implemented on a global scale. Researchers and policymakers must carefully consider the environmental, economic, and logistical implications of large-scale rock spreading initiatives to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability in the long run. The Evolution of Technology in the Modern Era
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