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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 ... N. Stacey, D. Collins |
2. Denitrifying Woodchip Bioreactor Performance in the Pacific NorthwestRunoff and tile drainage from agricultural activity is known to be a significant contributor of nitrogen pollution to surface waters. Denitrifying woodchip bioreactors, also known as Permeable Reactive Barriers (PBR) have been studied as a possible edge-of-field technology for reducing nitrogen concentrations in agricultural runoff. These units have been studied mostly in the US Midwest and mostly for irrigated crop systems. Little work has been done in alternative climate r... E.M. Weisshaar |
3. Compost Application in California Tomato Cropping SystemsWith the implementation of California Assembly Bill (AB) 341 the availability of composts such as green waste (GW) and co-composted green waste and food waste (FW) as a soil amendment is increasing. The use of those organic amendments in agricultural production systems has been recommended as an effective strategy to make full use of organic waste and improve soil health. However, little information is available to tomato growers to reassess N inputs from using GW and FW. This study was condu... Q. Yi, W. Horwath, S. Haas, X. Zhu-barker |
4. Determining Lime Requirements for Idaho SoilsFor the past 25 years, northern Idaho soils have significantly shown a decline in soil pH, from pH 6.0 to around a pH of 5.6. Southern Idaho soils are mostly neutral to alkaline, with a pH of around 7.0 to 8.5, however, most agricultural soils pH is declining to pH < 4.5. Soil acidification is becoming a rising issue in soil sustainability, in which approximately 30% of the world surface is covered by acidic soils. Low soil solution pH can be induced by continued irrigation that incre... K.L. Mookodi, J. Spackman, J. Sagers, K. Schroeder |
5. Evaluating Zinc Requirements of Corn, Small Grains, and AlfalfaMany growers and crop advisors in the Intermountain west have recently reported Zn deficiencies in major cereal and forage crops. Further, many common fertilizer blends now include Zn. Most Zn fertilizer guidelines indicate that 5-10 lbs of Zn per acre should be applied when critical soil test Zn levels are less than about 0.8 ppm Zn. These guidelines in Utah and many other states in the region were developed decades ago and need to be reassessed. Therefore, we established Zn response and rat... M. Yost, M. Baker, J. Gale, G. Cardon, E. Creech |
6. Using Calcium Hydroxide for Lime Incubation Studies and Moisture Effects on LimingPlant health and productivity are negatively affected by soil acidity. Soil physical properties such as soil texture, soil organic matter, and nutrient content help soils resist changes in their acidity (buffering capacity). Soils have different buffering capacities; agricultural producers need to know how responsive a soil is to lime and how much lime is required to modify a soil to a certain pH (lime requirement). One method to evaluate soil liming requirements and buffering capacity is to ... C. Collins, E. Loera, R. Reid, J. Spackman |
7. The Effects of Calcium Source and Placement on Soil Factors and Wheat Performace FactorsWheat production is a critical component of U.S. Pacific Northwest agriculture, with approximately 80% of the global soft white wheat grain supply originating from this region. Ammonium-based nitrogen fertilizers are widely used on typically alkaline soils in Eastern Oregon dryland production areas by wheat growers. However the nitrification process that biologically converts ammonium to nitrate increases the soil concentration of H+. This process ultimately creates acidic soil conditions, wh... S. Ellickson, A. Moore, R. Zemetra, C. Hagerty |
8. The Ammonia RainbowAgriculture has been identified as a major contributor to atmospheric carbon dioxide with nitrogen fertilizer production as a key component. Recent scrutiny of nitrogen production processes has identified ammonia production processes to reduce carbon output from traditional Haber-Bosch processes. These different ammonia production processes are often described with color descriptions to designate the processes used and qualitatively identify their carbon footprint, such as “green ... A. Blaylock |
9. Optimizing Fertigation for High Value CropsIn irrigated farming systems, soluble and mobile fertilizers, such as sources of nitrogen, are often applied to crops through fertigation. Fertigation presents both opportunities and challenges. Potential opportunities include better synchronization of nutrient availability with crop demand through the growing season and potential energy savings. Challenges include the need for additional investment on infrastructure for nutrient injection into the irrigation conveyance and distribution syste... C.A. Sanchez, D. Zerihun |
10. Non-dormant Alfalfa and Small Grain Rotations- Tillage and Fertility EffectsTo study the use of non-dormant and high nitrogen fixing alfalfa cultivars as a possible source of nitrogen for spring and fall-seeded wheat and barley grown under tilled and no-tilled conditions. Hi-Nitro, a non-dormant, high-nitrogen fixing alfalfa variety, and RoundUp Ready Stratica, a traditional dormant alfalfa cultivars were clear seeded in Aberdeen in 2023 and 2024. Forage was harvested 4 times. Fall or spring tillage was done approximately 3-14 days before planting fall or s... R. Findlay, J. Spackman, J. Hatch, T. Jacobsen, J. Gibbons, J. Sagers, D. Callister |
11. Malt Barley Yield and Quality Response to Nitrogen and Sulfur FertilityNitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) and are critical nutrients for producing high-quality malt barley but can be difficult to manage in semi-arid production systems where rainfall and, periodically, irrigation is variable. High spring precipitation or excessive irrigation events can favor N and S leaching reducing yield and grain quality. However, N fertilizer additives such as urease inhibitors, nitrification inhibitors, and controlled-release products may improve N availability. Irrigated... J. Spackman, J. Spackman, J. Hatch, J. Bevan |
12. Soil Test Method Precision, Correlations, and Trends: SSSA-NAPT Historical DataThe Soil Science Society of America’s (SSSA) North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) operates as a not-for-profit service laboratory resource since 1998 to assist/evaluate agricultural and environmental testing laboratories with quality assurance and quality control. Soil (n5 samples each quarter), plant (n3), and/or water (n3) samples collected nationwide are submitted quarterly to ~150 participating laboratories who choose which method(s) to use for which analytes they are inte... B. Hopkins, S.V. Nelson, G. Cardon, J. Lawley, T.J. Hopkins |
13. Quality of Alfalfa Hay As Influenced by Phosphorus and Potassium FertilizationIn two field experiments, research was conducted to determine impacts of nutrient applications on alfalfa hay quality and nutrient value at Irrigated Research and Extension Center near Prosser, WA. The phosphorus (P) study P soil tests levels were 6.7 and 5.7 ppm at the beginning of 2019 and 2020, respectively (Olsen P test) in 2019 and 2020. The potassium (K) study was conducted on a soil test level of 85 and 78 ppm K in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Applying phosphorus increased protein, NDF... S. Norberg, D. Llewellyn, J.P. Driver, S. Fransen |
14. Micronutrient Management to Optimize Yellow, Brown and Oriental Mustard Production in Southern IdahoOilseed crops hold a significant position in global agriculture, serving as vital sources of essential oils and as raw materials for numerous industries. Among these, yellow, brown, and oriental mustard are prominent for their multifaceted uses, particularly in the culinary and industrial sectors. However, these mustard varieties face challenges in achieving their maximum yield potential, largely due to suboptimal nutrient management practices. Fertilizer programs, though essential for produc... H. Ali, J. Spackman, J. Pandey |
15. Liming for Improved Nutrient Utilization and Weed Management in WheatSoil acidification is an increasing concern for agricultural productivity in Eastern Idaho, where low soil pH threatens the yield and quality of key crops such as barley and spring wheat. Acidification occurs from the long-term application of ammonium-based fertilizers and other management practices, leading to aluminum toxicity and nutrient imbalances that inhibit root development and reduce yields. Farmers in the region are exploring strategies to address this challenge, including the use o... T. Jacobsen, J. Spackman, A. Adjesiwor, J. Sagers, K. Schroeder, J. Bevan, K. Mookodi, J. Gibbons |
16. Hydrothermal Carbonization of Dairy Manure for Phosphorus Recovery and Runoff Risk Mitigation: Effect of Temperature and CaO AdditionDairy manure contains a significant amount of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), which are essential for soil fertility and crop productivity, but are currently underutilized due to ammonia emissions, P runoff and leaching, and manure N to P ratios do not match crop nutrient needs. Meanwhile, there is a growing concern about P depletion as a non-renewable resource. To address both the excessive use of synthetic P fertilizers and inefficiently direct use of dairy manure, a logical strategy is to... M. Islam, B. He, L. Chen |
17. Efficacy of FUSN as an N Source for Irrigated Vegetable CropsThe Department of Homeland Security Ammonium Nitrate Security Program regulates the distribution and sale of granular ammonium nitrate fertilizer (AN). Due to the bureaucracy of these regulations, the sale of dry AN has been discontinued in many areas. While liquid AN20 remains available, there is a preference for granular fertilizer for many agricultural applications. FUSN (20-0-0-14S) is a Honeywell and JR Simplot proprietary technology whereby ammonium nitrate is fused wi... C. Sanchez |
18. Response of Desert Vegetable Crops to “40 Rock”- a P and Zn Fertilizer SourceCrops produced on calcareous soils in low desert region of the southwestern United States show a large response to P fertilizer. The most commonly used P source has been mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP or 11-52-0). These same soils are also reported to be marginal with respect to Zn availability but responses to Zn fertilization had been infrequent in the past. More recently, we have observed crop responses to Zn fertilization with increasing frequency and we have revised Zn fe... C. Sanchez |
19. Updated Fertilizer Guidelines for Vegetable Crops in ArizonaThe vegetable production industry in the lower Colorado River region of Arizona is valued at over 19 billion dollars. Comprehensive fertilizer guidelines for vegetable crops historically produced in Arizona had not been updated in decades. Furthermore, we had no data to support guidelines for newer vegetable crops introduced into the region during the past two decades. The updated guidelines consolidate decades of research, incorporating historical databases, augmented with releva... C. Sanchez |
20. Plant Test Method Precision, Correlations, and Trends: SSSA-NAPT Historical DataThe Soil Science Society of America’s (SSSA) North American Proficiency Testing (NAPT) operates as a not-for-profit service laboratory resource since 1998 to assist/evaluate agricultural and environmental testing laboratories with quality assurance and quality control. Soil (n = 5 samples each quarter), plant (n = 3), and/or water (n = 3) samples collected nationwide are submitted quarterly to ~150 participating laboratories who choose which method(s) to use for which analytes they... S.V. Nelson, J. Lawley, T.J. Hopkins, G. Cardon, B. Hopkins |
21. On-Farm Variable-Rate Nitrogen Management in PotatoApplying variable nitrogen (N) has often improved yields, quality, and/or N use efficiency (NUE) of several crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate how pre-emergence variable rate N (VRN) zones vs. uniform N management impacts potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield, quality, and NUE. Low, average, and high N zones were created and evaluated for 10 site-years at fields near Grace, Idaho, USA over two years with rates based upon yield goals, soil, water, and previous crop ... E. Flint, M. Yost, B. Hopkins |