Researchers in the Department of Plant Sciences have found a way to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers needed to grow cereal crops such as rice. The discovery could save farmers in the United States billions of dollars annually in fertilizer costs while also benefiting the environment.
The research comes out of the lab of Eduardo Blumwald, a distinguished professor of plant sciences, who has found a new pathway for cereals to capture the nitrogen they need to grow.
The International Fertilizer Association (IFA) today announced the winners of its IFA Science Awards for excellence in plant nutrition science and innovation for sustainable development.
The annual small grain field day and other field-based activities were cancelled due to COVID-10, so Mark Lundy and colleagues are sharing digital resources related to nitrogen fertilizer management in small grains, small grain variety evaluation, and leaf and canopy meters to measure the N status of crops. Also posted are virtual field tours of small grain variety evaluation plots.
Can an ancient corn from Mexico help feed people in developing regions around the world? Allen Van Deynze and other researchers at UC Davis and Northern California, and in Mexico, have been working hard to answer that question.
¿Maíz mexicano para alimentar a los países pobres? Investigadores estadounidenses y mexicanos buscan una solución alimentaria global. Allen Van Deynze, UC Davis.
Three from UC Davis — Patrick Brown and Mark Lundy (Plant Sciences) and Thomas Harter (LAWR) — received grants from the CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program. Seven recipients received $1.5 million to improve nitrogen efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and advance best management practices for fertilizer application in farmlands.
Drone-mounted cameras are being used to determine fertilizer needs in agricultural crops, which also helps growers reduce crop fungal diseases. Bruce Linquist and Luis Espino address the use of drones (or unmanned aerial vehicles; UAVs) in rice production.
Patrick H. Brown, Plant Sciences professor at UC Davis, received $503,426 for his research on “Investigation of improved nitrogen fertilization practices for micro-irrigated almond orchards, specifically addressing the uncertainties around the ‘right place’.”
Rain in May, especially in the amounts we have seen this year, is far from ideal for rice growers. It makes establishing seedlings, nitrogen management, and weed control extra challenging. Here are three scenarios and some ideas on how to best manage nitrogen fertilizer.
If all the nitrogen fertilizer is applied at fall planting, much of the nitrogen can be leached below the root zone by winter rains before the crop needs the nutrients for spring growth.