In a study published in AGU Advances, Anthony et al., investigated the effects of combining organic and inorganic soil amendments on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions in rangeland soils. The research focused on combining ground rock (GR) with compost and biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More to explore synergistic effects on carbon dioxide removal (CDR).  

The key finding of the study is that the combination of GR, compost, and biochar resulted in the greatest increase in soil carbon stocks over three years, with an increase of 15.3 ± 4.8 Mg C/ha. While other treatments slowed or reversed background carbon losses, the combined amendment significantly enhanced carbon sequestration.  

Additionally, the application of ground rock amendments reduced nitrous oxide emissions by 11.0 ± 0.6 kg CO2e ha−1 yr−1 and increased methane consumption by 9.5 ± 3.5 to 18.4 ± 4.4 kg CO2e ha−1 yr−1. The combined amendment showed the greatest estimated net ecosystem benefit, with a reduction of 86.0 ± 24.7 Mg CO2e ha−1 over the three years.  

This research highlights the potential of combining organic and inorganic amendments to enhance carbon sequestration and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in rangeland soils.

SOURCE:Anthony. T. L.., Jones, A. R., & Silver, W. L. (2025). Supplementing enhanced weathering with organic amendments accelerates the net climate benefit of soil amendments in rangeland soils. AGU Advances, 6, e2024AV001480