Soft rock addition boosts soil fertility and carbon sequestration in sandy lands.
Adding soft rock to sandy soil can improve soil fertility and carbon sequestration. The study looked at different ratios of soft rock and sand in soil at different depths. They found that the 1:2 and 1:1 ratios increased soil nutrients the most in the top 10 cm of soil. Organic carbon mineralization had three stages and was highest in the top soil layer. The 10-20 cm soil depth had the smallest decrease in organic carbon mineralization rate, promoting carbon storage. Microbial biomass and dissolved organic carbon decreased as organic carbon mineralized. Overall, the study shows that adding soft rock to sandy soil can improve soil quality and carbon storage.