Cover crops are the plants which are grown to improve soil fertility, prevent soil erosion, enrichment and protection of soil, and enhance nutrient and water availability, and quality of soil. Cover
Environmental impacts on freshwater ecosystems persist due to inputs of excess fertilizer to agricultural landscapes. Conservation efforts, such as cover crops, are being encouraged to reduce nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) runoff from fields,
Studies suggest that coincidental adoption of both herbicide-resistant genetically modified crops (GMC) and conservation management may be mutually complementary, but integrated conservation systems with GMCs need to be assessed to
Best management practices that reduce potential phosphorus (P) loss and provide flexibility in P fertilizer management are needed to help producers protect water quality while maintaining crop yield. This study examined the
Increased emphasis on implementation of conservation practices (terraces, conservation tillage including no-till or reduced tillage, and cover crops [CC]) have led to the integration of best management practices. However, research
California’s wine grape growers will face increasing challenges under a changing climate as most production occurs near the boundaries of current varieties’ climatic thresholds. As part of this study, we
Dr. Lauren Golden from Boise State University discusses a recent survey of over 900 farmers in the West and how the view and use cover crops on their farms
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
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
Ecosystem services (ES) are the benefits people obtain from nature, which fall into three categories: provisioning, regulation/maintenance, and cultural. Ecosystem disservices are damages which can be of natural and/or anthropogenic
Natural soil is an ecosystem consisting of minerals, organic matter (OM), living organisms, water, and air and maintaining an unceasing flow of matter and energy within and with the surrounding
Variety selection and awareness of agronomic recommendations is essential for farmers to understand how malting barley interacts with other crops in their rotations and how other growing practices could influence
The nursery crop industry is the fastest growing sector of US agriculture, contributing USD 5.1 billion to the economy. Due to the increased area and production of nursery crops, exploration
The inclusion of a cover crop in a cropping system is a source of organic matter from biomass produced, which enhances biological activities and subsequently improves soil quality. However, the
Cover crops are among several conservation practices that have resilience-enhancing properties that are important for adaptation as well as the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through carbon (C) sequestration