Haque et al. (2025): Agronomic performance of enhanced rock weathering in a tropical smallholder system: A maize trial in Kenya

Fatima Haque, Benjamin Möller, Susan Sagina, Cavince Odhiambo, Herine Ondolo, Ngugi Thuo, Kevin Kamau and Sam Davies, IN: CDRXiv, https://doi.org/10.70212/cdrxiv.2025410.v1

Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) is a promising negative emission technology that can simultaneously sequester atmospheric CO₂ and improve agricultural productivity. While its efficacy has been demonstrated in temperate climates, a critical knowledge gap exists regarding its application within the complex, low-input smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates the agronomic impacts of applying a locally sourced volcanic rock powder (nephelinite) on smallholder farms in Kisumu County, Kenya. The trial was conducted with 56 women smallholder maize farmers, with each farm divided into a control plot and a treatment plot. A single application of the rock powder (20 t/ha) was applied at the start of the trial. A significant yield benefit was sustained and amplified in the second year.

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