Cooperative Extension experts offer fertilization guidance during Yolo County, online session
For farmers and consultants growing organic annual crops, University of California Cooperative Extension will hold a webinar on managing nitrogen in organic annual crops Dec. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Participants may join in person at Woodland Community College at 2300 E. Gibson Road in Woodland in Yolo County or virtually via Zoom. Free for farmers; registration is required.
Presenters will discuss how to estimate nitrogen release from diverse organic sources and translate that into nitrogen fertilization decisions and reporting.
“We will cover the most common sources of nitrogen and complete a nitrogen budget,” said Margaret Lloyd, UC Cooperative Extension small farms advisor for the Capitol Corridor.
Topics to be covered include:
- Understanding nitrogen dynamics – The nutrient, the role of microbes and the relevance of soil organic matter.
- Predicting nitrogen availability – How much nitrogen releases from organic amendments, compost and cover crops.
- Nitrogen budgeting – Putting it all together: N budgeting, synchronizing N release with N demand, role of water and soil testing.
Presenters include:
- Daniel Geisseler is a Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources at UC Davis. Geisseler’s research and outreach focuses on nutrient turnover and plant nutrition in agricultural systems. He is interested in the effects that different management practices have on nutrient use in California crops and how nutrient use efficiency can be improved, particularly with nitrogen.
- Patricia Lazicki is a UCCE vegetable crops advisor for Yolo, Solano and Sacramento counties. Her research focuses on soil health and fertility in organic cropping systems. Previously, as a soil science researcher, she worked to develop the nitrogen guidelines for crops throughout California.
- Margaret Lloyd is the UCCE small farms advisor for Yolo, Solano and Sacramento counties. Her research and outreach focuses on the needs of organic vegetable farms. Lloyd has spent the last several years studying nitrogen management in organic tomato production.
- Joji Muramoto is an associate UCCE organic agriculture specialist based at UC Santa Cruz. His research and extension focus on fertility and soilborne disease management in organic vegetables and strawberries. He networks with organic systems researchers across the state to better serve organic communities throughout California.
- Amélie Gaudin is a professor of agroecology in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. Her research focuses on measuring the impacts of diversification, including grazing cropland, on soil health and nutrient cycling functions and implications for sustainability and resilience of agriculture.
- Michael Cahn is a UCCE irrigation and water resources farm advisor for Monterey County. His research and extension program focuses on irrigation efficiency, nutrient use of crops and protecting water quality. He led the development of CropManage, an online decision support tool for irrigation and nutrient management.
Farmers, pest control advisers, certified crop advisers, agricultural consultants and technical assistance providers are encouraged to attend.
The training costs $20 (free for farmers) and includes lunch for in-person participants. Continuing education credits are available: 4 hours of CCA and 4 hours of INMTP.
Registration is required at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=47211.
For more information, contact Margaret Lloyd at (530) 564-8642 or mglloyd@ucanr.edu.