Nelly S. Raymond

Bio-based fertilisers (BBF) offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilisers, but their adoption is limited by a lack of understanding of their behaviour in soil. This is particularly crucial for phosphorus (P), a finite resource limiting crop productivity in 67% of soils. BBF adds significant carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) to soil, influencing nutrient cycling by microorganisms, key drivers of the P cycle. Their activity is often limited by C and N availability. Plant roots also supply labile C. PRIME-P aims to understand soil P cycling mediated by microorganisms in relation to C and N from BBF and plant roots. Using experimental and modelling approaches, PRIME-P will evaluate BBF and root exudates’ interaction on microbial P mobilisation. The project addresses critical soil-plant-microorganism interactions, paving the way for scalable, bio-based solutions to sustainable soil fertility and beyond.