In partnership with Earth and Climate Science professor Dan Richter’s soils lab, the Duke Campus Farm launched the Soil Fertility Fellowship in 2024 to analyze the impact of regenerative agriculture on soil health over the past 13 years. Since 2010, regenerative methods on one acre of previously compacted, nutrient-depleted land have addressed soil compaction, nutrient depletion, and microbial degradation.
Abby Saks, a Soil Fertility Fellow, presented her senior thesis on this research, analyzing soil from various farm plots and depths to assess changes over time. Her study showed that regenerative practices significantly increased soil organic matter and nitrate levels within eight years, contributing to improved crop yields and demonstrating substantial soil fertility gains.