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Fertiliser boosts soil’s ability to lock away carbon
New analysis of data and samples from Rothamsted’s Broadbalk long-term experiment has revealed link
14 October, 2025
The 180-year experiment at Rothamsted — the world’s longest-running agricultural trial — has revealed that long-term application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers can significantly increase the amount of carbon stored in farmland soils, helping to mitigate climate change.
An international team of scientists led by Zhejiang University, China, together with partners at Rothamsted and the University of Bangor, analysed samples from the Broadbalk Classical Experiment, which has been growing winter wheat continuously since 1843, and found that plots receiving nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers contained up to 28% more soil organic carbon than those left unfertilised.
The study, published in Nature Geoscience, combined radiocarbon tracing, metagenomics and metabolomics to offer new insights into how fertilisers influence the complex chemistry and microbial life that control carbon storage in soil.
Our findings show that long-term mineral fertilisation can actually enhance soil carbon sequestration, provided it’s managed carefully to minimise other unwanted impacts.
“Soil organic carbon is critical for climate regulation sustainable food production and soil health, but its decline in many agricultural soils has been deeply concerning,” said Dr Andy Gregory, one of the co-authors of the study. “Our findings show that long-term mineral fertilisation can actually enhance soil carbon sequestration, provided it’s managed carefully to minimise other unwanted impacts.”
The research found that nitrogen and phosphorus acted in distinct ways. Phosphorus alone boosted microbial activity and respiration — processes that release carbon — meaning that although microbial biomass increased, relatively little of it was converted into stable, long-lived forms of carbon. Nitrogen fertilisation, by contrast, improved the efficiency with which microbes transformed plant material into more persistent “mineral-associated” carbon.
When applied together, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers produced the strongest effect: enhancing plant growth, promoting the conversion of short-lived “labile” carbon into more stable forms, and increasing both the quantity and durability of carbon stored in the soil.
A global meta-analysis by the team found similar patterns elsewhere. Across dozens of long-term fertilisation trials worldwide, nitrogen and phosphorus were associated with average soil carbon increases of 21% and 13%, respectively. The benefits appeared to fade in the first decades of use, before strengthening again after about 30 years — suggesting that soil carbon gains from fertilisation build slowly over time.
The findings, the authors say, underscore the importance of long-term research and careful nutrient management in designing climate-friendly farming systems.
Publication
Contacts
Dr Andy Gregory
SOIL SCIENTIST
ABOUT ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH
Rothamsted Research is the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world. We work from gene to field with a proud history of ground-breaking
discoveries in areas as diverse as crop management, statistical interpretation and soil health. Our founders, in 1843, were the pioneers of modern
agriculture, and we are known for our imaginative science and our collaborative approach to developing innovative farm practice.
Through independent research, we make significant contributions to improving agri-food systems in the UK and internationally, with
economic impact estimated to exceed £3 bn in annual contribution to the UK economy. Our strength lies in our systems approach, which combines strategic research,
interdisciplinary teams and multiple partnerships.
Rothamsted is home to three unique National Bioscience Research Infrastructures which are open to researchers from all over the world:
The Long-Term Experiments,
Rothamsted Insect Survey and the
North Wyke Farm Platform.
We are strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with additional support from other national and
international funding streams, and from industry. We are also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (LAT).
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The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid
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BBSRC invests to push back the frontiers of biology and deliver a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. Through our investments, we build and support a vibrant,
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such as sustainable food production, climate change, and healthy ageing.
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ABOUT LAT
The Lawes Agricultural Trust, established in 1889 by Sir John Bennet Lawes, supports Rothamsted Research’s national and international agricultural science through the provision of land, facilities and funding. LAT, a charitable trust, owns the estates at Harpenden and Broom's Barn, including many of the buildings used by Rothamsted Research. LAT provides an annual research grant to the Director, accommodation for nearly 200 people, and support for fellowships for young scientists from developing countries. LAT also makes capital grants to help modernise facilities at Rothamsted, or invests in new buildings.