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Our Goal
The main objective of the Nitrogen and Irrigation Initiative (NII) is to improve nitrogen and irrigation management in California by closing the information access and training gap. UCANR advisors and specialists will work with Staff Research Associates (SRAs) to deliver educational content, training, and consultations to growers and their consultants in the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast. The NII is a collaborative program of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the University of California, Davis.
Our Approach
We are working directly with growers, farm workers and consultants to improve nitrogen use and irrigation efficiencies. UCANR County Advisors and specialty-hired employees are working together with growers to deliver science-based, practical information for on-farm nitrogen and water management.
Our Activities
We consider four main activities to achieve our goals:
Educational Resources
Continue to develop printed materials, videos, blogs, infographics to share with growers who can then relate and apply such practices to their specific operation.
On-Farm Trials
Coordinate on-farm demonstrations to promote locally appropriate best irrigation and nitrogen management practices to conserve resources and improve irrigation and nitrogen use efficiency.
Training Events
Conduct outreach activities (e.g., webinars, workshops, field days, trainings, one-on-one field visits) to increase knowledge and skills of enhanced nitrogen and irrigation practices and emphasize how practices increase on-farm efficiency.
Grower Consultations
UCANR academics and SRAs will conduct individualized on-farm grower consultations to make recommendations and assist with implementation of recommended practices.
Our Team
Our team is dedicated to providing knowledgeable resources and assisting the community with professional and effective solutions to concerns pertaining to nitrogen and irrigation management practices.
Dr. Samuel Sandoval Solis
Dr. Samuel Sandoval Solis is an Associate Professor at the University of California Davis (UC Davis) and a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Water Resources Management at the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of California (UCANR).
In his dual role as professor and specialist, he is responsible for the California statewide outreach, education and applied research program on water resources management for UCANR; and as a professor he is responsible for fundamental research, teaching, and graduate student mentorship at the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources in UC Davis. His research interest focuses on integrated water resources management through a holistic approach, mixing different methods, tools and processes to improve water resources management.
Dr. Khaled Bali
Dr. Khaled Bali is the Irrigation Water Management Specialist at the University of California Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier, CA. He has been with UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources since 1992 and served in different capacities as irrigation and water management advisor in Imperial County (1992-2016), UCCE county director in Imperial County (2009-2016) and two years as interim director of the UC Desert Research and Extension Center in Holtville (2012-2013 and 2014-2015). He received his PhD in soil physics from UC Davis (1992), MS degree in irrigation and drainage from UC Davis (1987), and BS degree in soil and irrigation from the University of Jordan (1984). He is responsible for designing, implementing, and conducting educational and applied research programs in irrigation, drainage, water management, water quality, soil salinity, waste management, reuse of wastewater for irrigation and nonpoint source pollution control practices. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Jordan (2006-07) and conducted research on reuse of wastewater for irrigation and constructed wetlands to treat wastewater.
Dr. Rachel Schellabarger
Dr. Rachel Shellabarger will be responsible for coordinating CIWR's work with the National Institutes for Water Resources, as well as work on a new nitrogen and irrigation management program. She comes to us from UC Santa Cruz, where her recent Ph.D. research sought to better understand how California dairy producers engage with environmental initiatives.
An environmental scientist who grew up farming, Shellabarger is drawn to interdisciplinary work that crosses traditional boundaries. She previously researched conflict among conservation and human rights groups on the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as wetland mitigation efforts in Midwest agricultural landscapes. She also taught undergraduate Natural Sciences coursework for six years and worked with refugee resettlement agencies.
She earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Wartburg College, a master's degree in natural resources from North Carolina State University, and a Ph.D. in environmental studies from UC Santa Cruz.
Dr. Phoebe Gordon
Phoebe Gordon is the Orchards Systems Advisor for Madera and Merced Counties. She covers almonds, pistachios, figs, prunes, and olives, as well as other tree crops (but not citrus!) She has been working for cooperative extension since January 2017. Her areas of focus are in horticulture, soils, and plant nutrition. Phoebe got her doctorate in Horticulture and Crop Science from The Ohio State University and her Bachelor’s in Science from University of California, Davis, where she studied Plant Biology.
Phoebe has done work examining almond and fig varieties, pistachio pruning, and insect pests in figs.
Dr. Mae Culumber
DR. Mae Culumber is a University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Farm Advisor in Fresno County. Dr. Culumber has always been fascinated with studying natural landscapes and agricultural ecosystems. She obtained a BS degree in biology at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, which then led to her pursuing her MS in ecology and her PhD in soil science at
Utah State University. Her dissertation research investigated the
influence of leguminous cover crops and other organic
production methods on soil health, tree vigor and productivity in
Utah peach orchards. In her current position with UCCE, Dr.
Culumber is focused on enhancing the sustainability and viability
of nut crop agriculture by conducting applied research and
providing outreach education in soil, water, and nutrition
management.
Cristal Hernandez
Cristal Hernandez is a recent graduate from California State University, Fresno where she completed a Bachelor's degree in Plant Science. She enjoys gardening and spending time with family outside of work. She was hired in January of 2023 as a Staff Research Associate for Kern County working along side Dr. Mohammad Yaghmour for the Nitrogen and Irrigation Iniative.