Nitrogen-Driven Forest Regrowth Could Double Carbon Storage Rates

A 20-year global experiment reveals that soil nitrogen content could be the missing key to doubling tropical forest regrowth rates—and vastly improving carbon capture.

Research led by the University of Leeds found tropical forests regrow twice as fast when soils contain sufficient nitrogen. The study monitored 76 forest plots across Central America for up to 20 years, showing nitrogen-deficient forests regrow significantly slower than nitrogen-rich areas.

Researchers estimate 0.69 billion tonnes of CO₂/year may be unsequestered globally due to nitrogen shortages. This figure exceeds the annual emissions of the United Kingdom, which emits approximately 300 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.

The study, published in Nature Communications on January 13, 2026, emphasizes that synthetic fertilizers are not recommended. Instead, the team advocates for planting nitrogen-fixing legumes or restoring forests in areas with existing nitrogen deposits.

Wenguang Tang said:

"Our study is exciting because it suggests there are ways we can boost the capture and storage of greenhouse gases through reforestation by managing the nutrients available to trees."

Dr. Sarah Batterman added:

"Our experimental findings have implications for how we understand and manage tropical forests for natural climate solutions."

The study clarifies that its findings are based on long-term observational data from controlled plots, not laboratory simulations. While the results highlight a strong correlation between soil nitrogen and regrowth rates, the authors caution that further research is needed to assess scalability in real-world reforestation projects.

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