Trial Finds Crushed Rock Raised Young Woodland Carbon Storage up to 27 Percent and Microbes Raised Biomass 13 Percent after Four Years

com reported on June 30, 2026. The study found that applying crushed silicate rock increased above-ground carbon storage by up to 27% after four years in native woodland plots. Microbial enrichment increased above-ground biomass by 13% after four years in native broadleaf areas, with the largest gains in the first year after planting.

The trial covered 72 research plots across 28 acres of hillsides in Wales. More than 200 volunteers collected data from 6,400 individually monitored trees each year through the Big Tree Measure project. The work examined the techniques in woodlands rather than on agricultural land.

Enhanced rock weathering applies crushed silicate rock such as basalt to soil, speeding a natural reaction that already sequesters at least 350 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. Microbial enrichment adds beneficial microorganisms from established forests. Dr.

Bonnie Waring, associate professor at Imperial College London, said the rock dust both captured carbon in the soil and encouraged trees to grow and store more carbon themselves. Waring noted that tree planting alone faces space limits and that combining the methods maximizes atmospheric carbon removal.

She said enhanced rock weathering on its own may not match some model predictions yet still contributes needed carbon dioxide removal.

Charles Nicholls, co-founder of The Carbon Community, said the findings arrive at a critical time for solutions that address both climate and biodiversity goals. The project is a collaboration among The Carbon Community, Imperial College London, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and the University of Sheffield.