Fertilizer Research and Education Program 2021

Purpose: Proposals must focus on at least one of the priority areas and may focus on research and/or education projects to provide growers and industry with cost-effective practices to improve the efficient use of fertilizer and minimize environmental impacts. All projects should have strong scientific merit. Research projects must include outreach to end-users. Outreach and education projects should include measures of impact. FREP invites research and education project proposals in three priority areas: Improving Input Management, Understanding Soil-Plant Processes, and Characterizing Loss Pathways. 1. IMPROVING INPUT MANAGEMENT: A. Demonstrating and/or Validating Management Practices that Optimize Nutrient and/or Irrigation Water Use Innovative management practices must be implemented on farms to promote agriculture sustainability and address agricultural challenges in California. Extension efforts that improve management practices and help implement efficient nutrient management practices on growers’ fields are a high priority. B. Addressing Challenges and Barriers to Adoption of Management Practices A variety of money and time-saving management practices that improve environmental outcomes, with respect to N loss, are available; however, many of these practices have not been adopted on a large scale. Research focused on addressing barriers to widespread adoption of improved management practices could include: C. Education and Outreach (Technical Education) The implementation of optimal irrigation and nutrient management practices depends on skilled and knowledgeable growers, managers, and field staff. Technical trainings and education can increase grower and field staff knowledge leading to improvements in on-farm management practices. Development of educational and/or certification programs to improve nitrogen and irrigation management are encouraged. 2. UNDERSTANDING PLANT-SOIL PROCESSES: A. Filling Knowledge Gaps for Nitrogen Management in Specific Crops B. The Role of Organic Input Materials in Soil Nutrient Management Across California, organic materials are applied to agricultural soils to improve physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. More information on the plant-available nitrogen from organic sources is needed for management decisions, and to help growers estimate mineralization rates for nitrogen budgeting. These organic materials include, but are not limited to, wood chips from whole orchard recycling, nitrogen-containing soil amendments, and organic fertilizers. 3. LOSS PATHWAYS: A. Understanding Nitrogen Movement from the Root Zone B. Mitigation Strategies to Reduce Nitrogen Losses There are technologies and practices that may mitigate nitrogen losses via various loss pathways. Research is needed to better understand the technologies and strategies that can minimize N losses and maximize nitrogen use efficiency. Eligible Applicants: All applicant types are eligible for concept proposal submission. Eligible Geographies: Concept proposals may originate from outside California, but at least some of the work must be performed in California, and all the work must be relevant to California agriculture.

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