GoKawiilStudy finds agricultural lime acts as a net CO2 sink in Mississippi basin
A new analysis by Suhrhoff et al. published in Nature examined water chemistry across the Mississippi River basin and found that agricultural liming, long classified by the IPCC as a greenhouse-gas source, has actually removed more CO2 from the atmosphere than it released. US farmers apply over 30 million tonnes of lime annually to manage soil pH, and the reaction was previously assumed to emit CO2 directly.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
If confirmed more broadly, this finding could prompt a reassessment of how liming is counted in national greenhouse-gas inventories, potentially reclassifying a routine farming practice as a carbon-removal tool rather than an emissions source. This suggests agricultural soil chemistry may hold underappreciated climate benefits, though further research would be needed to determine how the effect varies across different soils, climates and watersheds.
- Suhrhoff et al.'s study found agricultural lime in the Mississippi basin was a net CO2 sink, not source.
- The IPCC currently classifies liming's chemical reaction as a greenhouse-gas emission source.
- US farms apply over 30 million tonnes of lime yearly to manage soil acidity for crops.
Source: nature.com — Robertson, 2026-09-23
Published there as: “A widespread agricultural practice is an unexpected CO<sub>2</sub> sink”
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