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Advancing Nitrogen & Irrigation Management
More than a decade of research, training, and technical assistance for California agriculture.
Starting in 2014, CIWR works with UC Cooperative Extension, UC Davis, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, growers, and agricultural professionals to improve nitrogen and irrigation management through science-based education, research, and on-farm support.
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Explore Our Nitrogen Management Work
From professional training to on-farm technical assistance and applied research.
Courses & Trainings
Science-based training materials developed for Certified Crop Advisers, growers, and agricultural professionals.
Nitrogen & Irrigation Initiative
Current statewide technical assistance, education, on-farm consultations, and demonstration trials.
Research & Resources
Recent reports, research publications, training materials, and practical tools.
Nitrogen Management Courses & Trainings
CIWR has more than a decade of experience developing nitrogen management education for California agriculture.
Building a Foundation for Better Nitrogen Management
Beginning in 2014, CIWR and UC Cooperative Extension developed in-person trainings and short courses to help Certified Crop Advisers and agricultural producers understand nitrogen management requirements and best management practices.
The training program grew into a collection of science-based publications, presentations, videos, and an online nitrogen management course covering nitrogen cycling, budgeting, irrigation, crop-specific management, and tools for improving nitrogen-use efficiency.
These materials continue to provide a foundation for nitrogen management education and complement CIWR’s current technical assistance and research programs.
Explore Nitrogen Management Trainings
Access the online nitrogen course, training modules, publications, videos, and the archive of past Certified Crop Adviser trainings.
Program leadership over time: Doug Parker, Faith Kearns, Amanda Crump, Sat Darshan Khalsa, and Erik Porse, with contributions from UC Cooperative Extension and UC Davis specialists.
Project support: California Department of Food and Agriculture · Contract #19-0951-000-SA
Nitrogen & Irrigation Initiative
Practical, research-based support for growers and crop consultants.
The Nitrogen and Irrigation Initiative (NII) improves nitrogen and irrigation management by closing gaps in information access, training, and on-farm technical assistance. UC ANR advisors, specialists, and Staff Research Associates work directly with growers throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast.
NII is a collaboration among the California Department of Food and Agriculture, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, and UC Davis. CIWR coordinates UC ANR’s program activities.
NII Service Area
San Joaquin Valley & Central Coast
NII by the Numbers
Cumulative program activity reported through April 2026.
12
Counties served
6,500+
Participants reached
128
Educational events
680
Grower consultations
38
Ongoing/Multi-Year Farm Trials
What the Program Offers
On-Farm Consultations
Individualized recommendations for nitrogen budgeting, soil and leaf sampling, irrigation scheduling, distribution uniformity, monitoring, and other best management practices.
Training & Education
Workshops, webinars, field days, grower meetings, and continuing education opportunities tailored to regional crops and management needs.
Educational Resources
Fact sheets, videos, presentations, articles, infographics, and decision-support resources that translate research into practical information.
On-Farm Demonstration Trials
Locally relevant field demonstrations that test nitrogen and irrigation practices, technologies, and approaches under real farming conditions.
Research & Reports
CIWR and NII combine technical assistance with research and evaluation to understand nitrogen management practices, grower needs, and program outcomes.
Reports & Research
Nitrogen and Irrigation Initiative 2025 Progress Report
Program progress, outreach, evaluation, and cumulative activity through April 2025.
Nitrogen and Irrigation Initiative 2024 Progress Report
Program progress and activities from 2021–2024.
Patterns of Nitrogen Management Practices and Use Efficiency in California's Central Valley and Central Coast
Divya Prakash, Erik Porse, Rachel Shellabarger, Mehdi Nemati, and Ariel Dinar · 2025
Adoption Patterns of On-Farm Nutrient Management Practices and Nitrogen Application Rates in California’s Central Valley
Divya Prakash, Erik Porse, Mehdi Nemati, Rachel Shellabarger, and Ariel Dinar · California Agriculture, 79(2), 2025
Nitrogen Use and Small Farms
Analysis of nitrogen application rates across farm sizes in California’s Central Coast.
NII Resources
Workshop presentations, irrigation tools, fact sheets, videos, reports, and grower resources.
Nitrogen Management Training Library
CIWR’s earlier training modules, publications, and videos remain available as a science-based educational library for California agriculture.
Program Collaboration
NII brings together state agencies, UC researchers, Cooperative Extension advisors, and local agricultural communities to connect research with practical on-farm support.
Core Partners
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Fertilizer Research and Education Program
UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
California Institute for Water Resources
UC Cooperative Extension
UC Davis
Center for Environmental Policy and Behavior
Water Management Lab
UC ANR Project Coordination
Khaled Bali · Irrigation and Water Management Specialist
Erik Porse · CIWR Director
Sam Sandoval Solis · Professor of Cooperative Extension
Rachel Shellabarger · CIWR Academic Coordinator and NII Program Manager
Divya Prakash · CIWR Research Specialist
Current NII activities are supported through state and federal investments, including CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program funding and USDA-supported conservation and specialty-crop projects.
Connect with CIWR
Questions about nitrogen management research, training, or CIWR’s role in the Nitrogen and Irrigation Initiative? Contact our team or visit the NII program.