Proceedings
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| Filter results10 paper(s) found. |
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1. The Elasticity of Biochar Across the Farm: Nutrient Capture, Compost Feedstock, and Soil AmendmentWhen biomass is thermochemically altered through pyrolysis, what results is biochar, a solid, porous material that is high in carbon (C) (e.g. 80%). Owing to its unique physicochemical properties, biochar has been evaluated as a soil amendment, a compost feedstock, a means to mitigate nutrient loss and a way to sequester carbon. Biochar is an appealing material as a farm management tool because its potential use is varied. As part of a Western SARE grant, soil scientists at Washington... N. Stacey, D. Collins |
2. Comparison of Induced Sludge Bed (Blanket) Anaerobic Reactor to Vertical Plug Flow Technology for Animal Manure Digestion1The purpose of this study was to compare Induced Sludge Bed Anaerobic Reactor (IBR) (Hansen, Hansen, 2005) animal manure digestion technology to Vertical Plug Flow (VPF). In 2008 an IBR system at Sunderland Dairy Farm in Chester, Utah was repaired and retrofitted by Utah State University (USU), Extension, Utah Science, Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR), and Sunderland Dairy Farm. This was the first time research has compared IBR and VPF digester performance at a single site in a side-by-side... J. Gale, P. Zemke, B. Wood, S. Sunderland, S. Weeks |
3. Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Web-based Software for Lettuce ProductionLettuce growers on the central coast of California are under increased regulatory pressure to reduce nitrate loading to ground and surface water supplies. Two tools available to farmers to improve nitrogen use efficiency of lettuce are the quick nitrate soil test (QNST) for monitoring soil mineral nitrogen levels and weather-based irrigation scheduling for estimating water needs of the crop. We developed a web-based software application, called CropManage (https://ucanr.edu/cropmanage), to facilitate... M. Cahn, R. Smith, T. Hartz, B. Noel |
4. Exploring Controlled Release Nitrogen Fertilizers for Vegetable and Melon Crop Production in California and ArizonaVarious forms of polymer coated urea (PCU) were examined as sources of controlled release nitrogen for production of cauliflower, watermelon, carrot, and spinach in Arizona or California. Studies were designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of PCU for supplying 100 percent of the fertilizer nitrogen needed for an entire growing season in a single pre-plant application. In each study, two or more N rates were tested. PCU having an appropriate release time for a given set of growing conditions... R. Smith, A. Blaylock, E. Ellison, C. Sanchez |
5. Efficient N Fertility and Irrigation Management in Vegetable and Berry ProductionNitrogen (N) fertility and irrigation management for vegetable and berry production has historically been done on an ‘agronomic’ basis, with the sole focus on producing the optimal crop. For these crops N fertilizer and water costs are a small portion of overall production costs, and an even smaller portion of crop value; consequently, these inputs have not been scrutinized as closely as they have been for lower value crops. However, throughout the West concern over environmental water... T. Hartz, R. Smith, M. Cahn |
6. Cropmanage: an Online Decision Support Tool for Irrigation and Nutrient ManagementVegetable and berry growers on the central coast of California are under growing regulatory pressure to reduce nitrate loading to ground and surface water supplies. Two tools available to farmers to improve nitrogen use efficiency of these crops are the soil nitrate quick test (SNQT) for monitoring soil residual N concentrations and evapotranspiration (ET)-based irrigation scheduling for estimating crop water requirements. We developed a web-based software application, called CropManage (https://ucanr.edu/cropmanage),... M. Cahn, T. Hartz, R. Smith, B. Noel, L. Johnson, F. Melton |
7. Science and Stakeholder Engagement on 4R Nutrient Stewardship, Sustainability and Nutrient Performance Indicators: a Recent Central to Eastern U.S. and Global PerspectiveFarmers and society are becoming more aware of the need to better protect water, air and soil resources. The focus of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) is on responsible nutrient management and stewardship to support the needs of the growing human family. Since 2007, IPNI has been more actively engaged with university scientists, federal and state agencies, agribusiness associations, crop advisers, and nongovernmental partners to get more of the applied nutrients - especially... C. Snyder |
8. Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Cool Season Vegetable Production Systems with Broccoli RotationsNitrate leaching in leafy vegetable production in the Salinas Valley, CA is a continuing problem. Increased levels of nitrate in groundwater resources affects the ability of municipalities to access drinking water that meet federal water quality standards. Regulations by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board are now requiring growers to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in production fields. In prior studies we found that above ground biomass nitrogen (N) at crop maturity... R. Smith, M. Cahn, T. Hartz |
9. Biosolids-based Fertilizers as a Nitrogen Source in California Small Grains SystemsSituation/ conditions In response to regulatory and economic pressure, California growers are becoming more familiar with nitrogen budgets. In addition to seeking out ways to improve nitrogen management strategies, growers can possibly benefit by incorporating alternative sources of nitrogen to feed their crops. Liquid injected or pelletized biosolids-based fertilizers from local waste streams and processing facilities are one source that growers are beginning to explore. As... K. Mathesius, D. Geisseler, M. Savidge, M. Lundy, T. Nelson, N. Andersen |
10. CropManage Decision Support Tool for Improving Irrigation and Nutrient Efficiency of Cool Season Vegetables in California: a Decade of Field Demonstrations and OutreachVegetable growers on the central coast of California are under regulatory pressure to reduce nitrate loading to ground and surface water supplies. California is also implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) which may limit agricultural pumping in regions such as the central coast where the aquifer has been over-extracted for irrigation of crops. Growers could potentially use less N fertilizer, address water quality concerns, and conserve water by improving water... M. Cahn, R. Smith, L. Johnson, F. Melton |