Rock Dusts: A Silent Revolution for Soil Nutrition and Climate Protection

Addressing climate change and food security, this article evaluates ground silicate rocks (remineralizers) as tools for atmospheric CO2 capture and food and nutrition security. The experiments were conducted under controlled conditions using leaching columns, to quantify the leached carbon and pots, to evaluate the growth and nutrition of three agricultural crops. Five rock types (basalt, kamafugite, chlorite–muscovite calc–schist, hydrothermalized calc–silicate, and biotite–actinolite schist) were applied to a clayed Red Oxisol (S) at 20 t ha−1, with and without organic matter (OM) at 40 t ha−1. The study involved 84 experimental units, including S, S + R, S + OM, S + R + OM, and S, S + OM and NPK controls. The results demonstrate that R + OM synergies significantly improved soil chemical properties, raising pH from 5 to 7 and increasing electrical conductivity. These amendments enhanced the growth and mineral content of beans, arugula, and carrots compared to conventional NPK formulations. While OM influenced overall carbon mobility, the specific contribution of silicate minerals to carbon dioxide removal (CDR) was most evident in S + R treatments. The findings suggest that integrating regional mineral resources with organic amendments offers a scalable, sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers, fostering resilient agricultural systems while contributing to global carbon sequestration targets.