Solution Center Blog

Alfalfa Nitrous Oxide Emissions and Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Alfalfa has a long and storied history in California agriculture. First introduced in the state during the gold rush of 1849-1850, California now leads the nation in alfalfa production. Between 2013-2015, an average of 815,000 acres of alfalfa were harvested in the state. Statewide alfalfa yields increased to 5,451,000 tons in 2015 and California now accounts for over 9% of total U.S. production.  Alfalfa serves as an important source of hay while also proving useful as a ‘green...

Biochar and Carbon Sequestration

Sequestering Carbon in the Soil Using Biochar Soils store three times more carbon than exists in the atmosphere. Plants absorb atmospheric carbon during photosynthesis, so the return of plant residues into the soil contributing to soil carbon. While much of this carbon ultimately returns to the atmosphere as soil microbes decompose carbon based plant biomass and release carbon dioxide, soil carbon stores can increase if the rate of carbon inputs exceeds the rate of microbial decomposition....

Biochar and Nutrient Management

In the on-going quest to develop sustainable agricultural practices, growers are looking for new and inventive technologies. In this blog post, we'll focus on biochar, one such technology that has been a focus of intense research in recent years. Biochar is produced by burning organic material at extreme temperatures as high as 1600° F with little to no oxygen available. Oftentimes biochar is a by-product of energy production, but it can also be produced solely to be used as a soil...

UC Soil and Water Short Course

Tuesday, November 17, 2016 from 8 AM - 4:30 PM. UC Cooperative Extension Specialists Tim Hartz and Daniel Geisseler, along with Farm Advisors Michael Cahn and Franz Niederholzer, will hold an open soil and water short course at UC Davis this fall.  The course is intended for growers, consultants, government agency personnel, and individuals preparing to take the California Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) exam.  The goal is to provide practical information on soil fertility...

The 4 R’s of Nitrogen Management and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Corn

In order to be accurate and effective, fertilizer recommendations must factor in a wide range of considerations, ranging from the site-specific to the climatic. To help guide these decisions, “the 4 R's” have been developed: Right rate, Right place, Right time, and Right form. These 4 R's can be utilized in tandem to maximize a given goal, whether that is maximum yield, maximum profitability, minimize adverse environmental effects, or perhaps a combination of factors. However, the...

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