Effects of rock amendment on soil physicochemical properties and organic carbon stabilization

Enhanced mineral weathering in agricultural settings is an approach for carbon dioxide removal in which crushed silicate rocks are added to soils. However, the effects of long-term application of crushed basalt on soil structure and organic carbon stabilization are still poorly constrained. We investigated a wide range of soil chemical and physical indicators in control, basalt and lime treatment sites to provide a comprehensive evaluation of soil response to enhanced mineral weathering. The field study showed that soil organic carbon preservation was influenced by soil structure rather than rock additions. Basalt amendment improved overall soil chemical quality, and accumulating basalt from high application rates did not have any negative impact on soil physical characteristics even after 6 years.