Healthy Desert Soils Initiative: Building A Comprehensive Soil Health Assessment Framework
Soil health management has been ‘prioritized’ by Arizona growers in many recent surveys. But there is a lack of information on how to assess soil health in carbon-limited soils. To address this concern, I am working towards building a 'robust’ Soil Health Assessment Framework (SHAF) for Arizona and other desert environments. Additionally, I am encouraging active industry participation as we are surveying soils from commercial farms all around Arizona. In this program, the research and extension team will partner with the agricultural industry to identify threshold levels of soil health indicators (SHIs), which will contribute to developing the SHAF.
Related Projects
Comprehensive Soil Health Survey and Assessment in Yuma
Evaluating Soil Health Status in the Irrigated Cotton Production Systems of Arizona
Funding Sources
Arizona Cotton Growers' Association
United States Department of Agriculture
Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture
Developing and Evaluating Innovative Soil Health Management in the Desert Southwest
Traditionally, soil health indicates improving soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties, especially improving carbon storage and boosting essential soil biological activities. However, in arid and semi-arid environments, the common methodologies for improving soil health often come out as unsuccessful mostly due to a lack of existing knowledge on how these technologies are to be implemented in these ecosystems. Sometimes, these technologies are not being adopted by commercial growers mostly due to a lack of essential equipment or adverse environmental conditions. But to improve soil health, the principles should be followed and all it requires is a few modifications in the technology or in the application protocol.
Related Projects
Soil Health Following Water Sanitization in Romaine Lettuce Production System
Water sanitization ensures food safety in leafy green/vegetable production systems. But these sanitizers have antibiotic properties and might manipulate soil health. We are investigating the impacts of sanitizers on soil health.
SRS RN: Transforming Rural-Urban Systems: Trajectories for Sustainability in the Intermountain West
We are designing a survey to understand the current status of regenerative agriculture in the Navajo nation. Through collaborative research, we plan to evaluate regenerative approaches in the intermountain west. See here
Quantifying Ecosystem Services in Turfgrass Systems
Measuring carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a turfgrass systems. Multiple turfgrass varieties are under study currently.
Funding Sources
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA)
Assessing Impacts of Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies on Soil Health and Productivity through Innovation
In the arid and semi-arid climates of Arizona, the climate dictates agricultural technologies adopted by commercial producers. Climate-smart technologies, therefore, impact soil health and productivity differently under different climates. In the desert southwest, information on the impacts of climate-smart after field-scale adaptations is limited and lacking.
Related Projects
Evaluating Winter Small Grain Crops for Water Productivity and Soil Health Dynamics Under Deficit Irrigation Regime in Desert Agricultural Systems of Arizona
Durum wheat and barley are being grown under deficit irrigation systems to evaluate effect of water stress on soil health and crop productivity.
Sustaining Groundwater and Irrigated Agriculture in The Southwestern United States Under a Changing Climate
We are investigating how cover cropping can impact sustainable management and conservation of water in the desert southwest. See here
Dynamics of Soil Microbial Respiration of Rotations with Durum as Winter Crop in Arizona: Role of Durum Production in Maintaining Soil Health
A low-cost soil respiration sensor is deployed in the durum wheat field and we are measuring soil health properties to find possible relationships between soil health and the data recorded by the sensor.
Funding Sources
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Arizona Grain Research and Promotion Council
