  Enhanced weathering (EW) with crushed basalt on farmlands is a promising
scalable atmospheric carbon dioxide removal strategy that urgently requires
performance assessment with commercial farming practices. Our large-scale
replicated EW field trial in the heart of the U.S. Corn Belt shows cumulative
time-integrated carbon sequestration of 15.4 +/- 4.1 t CO2 ha-1 over four
years, with additional emissions mitigation of ~0.1 - 0.4 t CO2,e ha-1 yr-1 for
soil nitrous oxide, a potent long-lived greenhouse gas. Maize and soybean
yields increased 12-16% with EW following improved soil fertility, decreased
soil acidification, and upregulation of root nutrient transport genes. Our
findings suggest that widespread adoption of EW across farming sectors has the
potential to contribute significantly to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions
goals and global food and soil security.
