Articles | Volume 23, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1681-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1681-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
03 Mar 2026
Research article |
| 03 Mar 2026
| 03 Mar 2026
Effects of basalt and biochar addition on base cations and trace metals in plants and soil in an urban field trial
Arthur Vienne
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Biobased Sustainability Engineering (SUSTAIN), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Jennifer Newell
School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
Jasper Roussard
Biobased Sustainability Engineering (SUSTAIN), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Rory Doherty
School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
Siobhan F. Cox
School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
Gary Lyons
Agri-Environment Branch, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland, UK
Biobased Sustainability Engineering (SUSTAIN), Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Short summary
We explored whether adding crushed volcanic rock and charcoal to soil could help store inorganic carbon, improve plant growth and reduce harmful metals in crops. The crushed rock did not increase plant growth or inorganic carbon in soil and nutrients released from the rock may have moved into other stable soil forms rather than forming carbonates. In contrast, charcoal improved plant growth and reduced metal uptake. Using both rocks and charcoal together offered no extra observable benefits.
We explored whether adding crushed volcanic rock and charcoal to soil could help store inorganic...
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