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Find similar grantsBasaltic Rock Dust (BARD) Amendment for Improved Soil Health is sponsored by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Studies the use of basaltic rock dust as a soil amendment to improve soil health, relevant to enhanced rock weathering.
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Making soil health more sustainable with Basaltic Rock Dust - Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Skip Navigation or Skip to Content Making soil health more sustainable with Basaltic Rock Dust Imagine using ordinary volcanic rock to solve some of agriculture’s biggest challenges. That is the goal of a team of researchers at the University of Florida.
Dr. Jehangir “Jango” Bhadha , associate professor in the UF/IFAS department of soil, water, and ecosystem sciences, is leading the effort. Funded with a $750,000 USDA grant, the project will explore how Basaltic Rock Dust (BARD) can improve soil health, boost crop resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
With its focus on Florida’s sandy and organic soils, this research could lead to more sustainable farming practices across subtropical regions. The BARD project is an interdisciplinary effort. It includes Dr. Maria Silveira (SWES), Dr. David Foster (UF Department of Geological Sciences), and Dr. Matthew VanWeelden (UF/IFAS Extension).
It takes a climate-smart approach to agriculture, aiming to balance food security, climate change adaptation, and greenhouse gas reduction. Researchers will evaluate the agronomic and environmental benefits of BARD in two key Florida agroecosystems. One is row crop production on Histosols in the Everglades Agricultural Area, in Palm Beach County, Florida.
The other is the perennial pastures within a USDA Long-Term Agroecosystem Research site , in Hardee County, Florida. “Florida’s unique sandy and organic soils present both challenges and opportunities,” Dr. Bhadha explained. “Our goal is to assess BARD’s potential to improve soil health, increase carbon sequestration, and promote sustainable agricultural systems.
” Two types of basaltic rock dust. Multidisciplinary Expertise and Impact This project aligns with USDA Soil Health program priorities, particularly in foundational and applied research. Field and laboratory experiments will explore BARD’s efficacy in enhancing soil carbon storage and its long-term benefits for agricultural productivity.
The research is especially relevant in Florida’s warm subtropical climate, where carbon sequestration in soil is difficult. “Basaltic rock dust is a promising soil amendment because it offers multiple benefits,” Dr. Bhadha said. “In addition to improving soil structure and fertility, it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions through enhanced rock weathering—a natural process that captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
” The study will also address practical challenges like the economic feasibility of BARD application, ensuring that the proposed practices are scalable, cost effective, and beneficial for growers. The research team brings together expertise from multiple fields to achieve the project’s ambitious objectives.
Dr. Silveira will lead research on the agronomic effects of BARD, while Dr. Foster will focus on the geochemical characteristics of the material. Dr. VanWeelden will oversee stakeholder engagement and extension activities, ensuring results are effectively disseminated to growers and other agricultural stakeholders.
A Step Toward Resilient Agriculture This research holds promise for regions like Florida, where intensive agricultural practices often strain soil health. By investigating BARD’s potential to improve soil sustainability and mitigate climate change, the project addresses critical challenges facing agriculture today. “This is not just about improving soil health,” Dr. Bhadha emphasized.
“It’s about creating resilient agricultural systems that benefit growers, the environment, and future generations. ” This work is supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI): Foundational and Applied Science Program, grant number: 2025-67019-44443, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy. Featured image is a UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones.
Last Updated: February 13, 2025 Agriculture , UF/IFAS Extension , UF/IFAS Research Tags: Basaltic Rock Dust , Carbon Sequestration , Climate Change , Everglades Research And Education Center , Greenhouse Gas , Jango Bhadha , Jehangir Bhadha , Maria Silveira , Range Cattle Research And Education Center , Soil Health , Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences , USDA-NIFA Soil and Water Summer Experience – Paula Sanchez Garzon Researchers investigate summer cover crops in organic vegetable production Investigating and improving soil microbes to help sorghum adapt to climate change Florida-Friendly Landscaping (2) Relationships & Family (1) Professional Development (6)
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Universities and research institutions. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $749,999. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for Basaltic Rock Dust (BARD) Amendment for Improved Soil Health are due December 14, 2029. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
Basaltic Rock Dust (BARD) Amendment for Improved Soil Health is funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
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MGPV Travel Grant is sponsored by Geological Society of America (GSA), Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology, Volcanology Division. MGPV Travel grants support student travel to the annual GSA meeting. Applications are restricted to active graduate or undergraduate students who are the presenting authors of an accepted abstract at the annual GSA meeting.
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) - 2025: A.4 Rapid Response and Novel Research in Earth Science is sponsored by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD). This omnibus research funding opportunity includes various program elements, with rolling submissions for Earth Science research through August 2026. Proposers to Earth Science using the NASA Center for Climate Simulation high-end computing facility must include specific budget details.
USDA-NIFA-HEP-011737 puts $14 million behind roughly 28 awards of up to $705,000 for graduate fellowships in food and agricultural sciences. No match is required. But two eligibility rules — the new-graduate-student definition and the citizenship requirement — disqualify most of the students a department would naturally nominate.
Read articleNIFA's Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program (USDA-NIFA-HSI-011903) posted September 10, 2026 with $30.6 million, 40 anticipated awards, and a December 3 deadline. It uses the same 25 percent enrollment definition the Justice Department has declined to defend at the Department of Education. Here is the structure, the three grant types, and the caps that decide who wins.
Read articleNIFA's FY2026 Higher Education Challenge program closes October 15, 2026 with $5.7 million and roughly 18 awards. Standard grants cap at $150,000, Collaborative Type 1 at $300,000, and Collaborative Type 2 at $750,000 — all from the same pool, all scored against each other. No match is required. Here is how the tier structure actually determines your odds.
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