Work conducted by Clive Kirkby (CSIRO) has investigated the feasibility of increasing soil carbon levels with the use of balanced amounts of nutrients and incorporation of stubble.

The overall aim of the project was to raise awareness of farmers about how they can reduce green house gas emissions, sequester soil carbon and make improvements in farm productivity.

Given that carbon sequestration is not an overnight process it is not surprising that there have been few significant results or trends to report on in either an intensive plot or large paddock scale.  Nutrient addition to balance the ration of C;N;P;S has surprisingly had little impact on yield and this is possibly a desirable outcome as no difference between +/- nutrient treatments would indicate that the nutrients are available for sutbble breakdown, rather than crop vegetative mass. Cost associated on a whole farm scale of purchasing nutrients in addition to normal fertiliser requirements could prove prohibitive.