Crushed Rock Boosts Carbon Removal from Farmland
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Phys.org
Adding crushed volcanic rock to farmland can help remove carbon dioxide from the air, according to a field study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and Cornell University. The study found that the technology of enhanced rock weathering, which speeds up the process of carbon capture, was effective even in dry climates. By crushing the rock into a fine dust, it reacts with rainwater to capture carbon dioxide and store it in the soil. The researchers observed carbon removal during an extreme drought in California, and if this method was applied to all croplands in the state, it could be equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off the road annually. The study highlights the potential of this technique in combating climate change and the need for further research and verification at larger scales.