Impact of volcanic rock on vine health and carbon sequestration

This project aims to investigate the impact of basalt additions on soil and vine health in a plot of Chasselas at the Château de Crans vineyard. Basalt is a young volcanic rock rich in trace elements.

Thanks to a collaboration with a doctoral student from the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment of the University of Lausanne, Xavier Dupla, the project also has an interesting "climate component" in terms of carbon sequestration. Many studies are currently focusing on the organic carbon cycle to store it by increasing organic matter. This project is a precursor in Europe for the evaluation of the potential sequestration of carbon in inorganic form through the silicate/carbonate cycle, which regulates CO₂ levels in the atmosphere on a geological scale and therefore the global earth temperature. VitiBasalte therefore aims to assess the potential sequestration of carbon on a human scale through the input of finely ground basalt.

Finally, VitiBasalte also aims to evaluate the limits and risks of the massive input of basalt, particularly with regard to the possible contamination of soils with heavy metals.

• Canton of Vaud

• Further programmes

• University of Lausanne, Xavier Dupla

• Marchand David (Department Suisse Romande)

• Sonnard Robin (Department Suisse Romande)

Project management

• Department Suisse Romande (FiBL Switzerland)