Evaluating Rock Dust as an Agro-mineral Amendment for Soil Carbon Capture in Loblolly and Soybean Agro-ecosystems

Rock dust is a crushed byproduct of mineral resource extraction, and contains nutrient-rich, fine minerals. As rock dust weathers, it captures CO2 and releases nutrients. This project will evaluate how commercially available rock dust as an agro-mineral to improve nutrient availability and sequestration of carbon (both inorganic and organic forms). 

The scientists hypothesize that sandy soil organic and inorganic sequestration as well as nutrient release for plant uptake can be improved in Virginian sandy soils. Two important crops grown on sandy soils in Virginia are soybean and loblolly, both of which are important economic crops for the region. Critical studies are needed to determine if rock type and application rate affect carbon sequestration and nutrients from rock dust.

Through a partnership with Remineralize the Earth, a not-for-profit charitable organization, the researchers will connect with rock dust producers to obtain information on economic costs, energy consumption, and carbon budget from quarry to commercial rock dust product.

Results of the experiments will be used to develop a lifecycle assessment model focused on rock dust in Virginia, helping to characterize the potential environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle of the product (production, distribution, use and end-of-life phases) relative to other options for carbon sequestration in agriculture.