Matt Yost from Utah State University discusses cover crops and how they contribute to soil organic matter in irrigated systems.
Conservation agricultural systems retain more carbon (C) produced by plants at the soil surface. Estimating C inputs to soil requires both plant biomass production and transformations of plant-produced C into
With more than 65% of agronomic crops under no-till in Pennsylvania, herbicides are relied on for weed management. In perennial forage crops, annual companion crops can be added at the
Soil is one of the dynamic components of terrestrial ecosystems and a critical basis for food security and ecosystem services. Sustainable management practices, based on integration of holistic and novel
The addition of cover crop and minimum tillage to current row-crop production practices in the mid-southern United States could holistically improve the sustainability of these farming systems. Soil organic matter
Winter Wheat is the predominant crop grown in the Central Great Plains. It is commonly grown either in a 2-yr rotation of winter wheat–fallow (W-F) or 3-yr rotation of winter
Growing a cover crop with an appropriate amount of water use during long fallow periods between grain crops in a winter wheat–sorghum– fallow (WSF) system could increase productivity, profitability, resource
Soil erosion is a major problem in soybean production regions as crop residue is limited, leaving the soil with limited cover during the winter. Cover crops can provide protection to
Winter wheat is among the most productive and profitable crops grown in rainfed agricultural regions of the world. The mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers in the Pacific Northwest
Grazing lands are complex socio-ecological systems that provide vegetation for livestock consumption and a host of other ecosystem services including clean water, recreation, and wildlife habitat. Grazing managers often adjust
Nutrient runoff in the Mississippi River Basin has caused a hypoxic “dead” zone in the Gulf of Mexico. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy provides a framework for farmers to
Conservation planning is the primary tool the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) uses to help farmers manage and protect the nation’s soil, water, air, plant, animal, energy, and human
The UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) concluded in September 2021. It was a much-needed global initiative with high expectations of transforming the world food systems and addressing the growing threat
Depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC) resulting from extractive agriculture is a key driver of soil degradation. Much of this SOC has been released to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide,
Agricultural nonpoint source pollution has been identified as a major cause of water quality impairments in the United States. Increased fertilizer use, while contributing to increased productivity, leads to pollution
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