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Rothamsted Experimental Station

Founded in the 1840s, this pioneering agricultural research center helped transform farming from trial-and-error into a more scientific discipline. Its long-running field experiments and work in statistics made it especially influential in modern crop and soil science.

1 Audiobook

The micro-organisms of the soil

The micro-organisms of the soil

by Edward J. (Edward John) Russell, Rothamsted Experimental Station

About the author

Rothamsted Experimental Station, now known as Rothamsted Research, is one of the world's oldest agricultural research institutions. It was established in 1843 at Harpenden in Hertfordshire by John Bennet Lawes, who began scientific experiments on crop nutrition and fertilizers on his estate.

A major part of its reputation comes from the long-term field experiments started in the 19th century, some of which are still running. These studies gave researchers an unusually rich record of how crops, soils, and fertilizers behave over time, and they helped shape modern agricultural science.

The station is also closely linked with the history of statistics. In the early 20th century, Ronald A. Fisher worked there and developed methods that became foundational for experimental design and data analysis, extending Rothamsted's influence far beyond agriculture.