Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

Enhanced efficiency fertilizers: Boosting crop production, mitigating environmental impact

by Megan Winslow
May 29, 2025

Applying fertilizer requires a careful balancing act between using too little -- which can be insufficient to support plant growth -- and applying too much, which wastes money and can hurt the environment. (more…) READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Acidification, Agricultural, Agriculture, Controlled Release Fertilizer, Conventional Fertilizer, CRF, Crop Yields, Cropping Systems, Crops, Data, EEF, Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers, Environment, Environmental, Environmental Impact, Environmental Risk, Fertilization, Fertilizer, Grower, Guide, Hardeep Singh, IFAS, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Journal Of Plant Nutrition And Soil Science, Labor Costs, Megan Winslow, Nitrous Oxide, NMP, Nutrient Efficiency, Nutrient Leaching, Nutrient Management Program, Nutrient-use Efficiency, Nutrients, Plant, Rate, Research, Researchers, Review, Slow-release Fertilizer, Soil, SRF, Tool, UF, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, Yield

Tracing the Long-Term Impacts of Biosolids on Florida’s Sandy Soils

by Mike Loizzo
May 8, 2025

What happens to nutrients and metals in soil long after biosolids—a byproduct from sewage treatment—have been applied to the land? That’s the question JoAnn Donald, a graduate student in the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, Biosolids, Calcium, Environment, Eutrophication, JoAnn Donald, Phosphorus, Seminole County, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Yang Lin

Planting responsibly: Celebrate Earth Day by testing your soil first

by Mike Loizzo
April 21, 2025

Every year on April 22, Earth Day inspires Floridians to get outside and give back to the planet—often with a shovel in hand. From planting flower beds to establishing native trees, we celebrate by trying to bring more nature into our yards. ... READ MORE

Category: Home Landscapes, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: ANSERV Labs, Earth Day, Extension Soil Testing Lab, Franta Majs, IFAS Analytical Service Laboratories, Landscaping, Soil Test, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences

Investigating and improving soil microbes to help sorghum adapt to climate change

by Mike Loizzo
April 2, 2025

Changing climate conditions that challenge global food production have researchers studying microbiomes and genetic engineering to improve crop resilience. A project getting underway is focused on beneficial bacteria in sorghum’s root mucilage ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Climate Change, EMBRAPA, Mucilage, Nitrogen Fixation, Soil Microbial Ecology, Soil Nutrient Management, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Sorghum, Sunny Liao

Environmental Science Students Explore Sustainability in Action at Experiential Learning Lab

by Mike Loizzo
March 27, 2025

Instead of sitting in a lecture hall, a group of UF students enrolled in Environmental Science Lab (EVS 3000L) spent the day surrounded by compost bins, a biodigester, and garden plots at the Experiential Learning Laboratory (ELL). Ann Wilkie, ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Ann Wilkie, Biodigester, BioEnergy And Sustainable Technology Lab, Biogas, Compost Cooperative And Gardens, Composting, Experiential Learning Lab, Research, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Sustainability

Exploring Nanofertilizers: A New Chapter in Sustainable Agriculture

by Mike Loizzo
March 14, 2025

A newly published book chapter co-authored by Dr. Jonas Pereira de Souza Jr., and Dr. Davie Kadyampakeni explores the potential of nanofertilizers in modern agriculture. The chapter appears in Nanofertilizers in Agriculture, a book from the ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Citrus Research And Education Center, Davie Kadyampakeni, Fertilizer, Jonas Pereira De Souza Jr., Nanofertilizer, Nutrient Management, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences

New research results on managing potassium fertilization of peanut in northern Florida

by Mike Loizzo
March 4, 2025

Over the past 50 years, improvements in peanut varieties have more than doubled yields, with an average increase of 46 lb/ac per year (Holbrook, 2019). However, the greater nutrient demands of these high-yielding varieties raise concerns that ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Agriculture, Fertilizer, George Hochmuth, Peanut, Potassium, Precision Agriculture, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences

Get to know Histosols

by Mike Loizzo
February 21, 2025

For thousands of years, South Florida’s landscapes have been shaped by rich organic soils known as Histosols. These unique soils play a crucial role in agriculture, water management, and environmental conservation. While they are essential ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, NATURAL RESOURCES, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Everglades Agricultural Area, Everglades Research And Education Center, Histosols, Jango Bhadha, Jehangir Bhadha, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences

Tiny Indicators of Soil Health in Florida’s Citrus Groves

by Mike Loizzo
February 12, 2025

In the citrus groves of southwest Florida, a team of researchers is investigating the hidden power of soil nematodes. These tiny organisms with enormous ecological impact offer key insights into soil health. This study investigates how cover ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Allan Bacon, Citrus, Cover Crops, Gabriel Maltais-Landry, Nematodes, Sarah Strauss, Soil Health, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Yaslin Gonzalez, Zane Grabau

Making soil health more sustainable with Basaltic Rock Dust

by Mike Loizzo
January 13, 2025

Imagine using ordinary volcanic rock to solve some of agriculture’s biggest challenges. That is the goal of a team of researchers at the University of Florida. Dr. Jehangir “Jango” Bhadha, associate professor in the UF/IFAS department ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Basaltic Rock Dust, Carbon Sequestration, Climate Change, Everglades Research And Education Center, Greenhouse Gas, Jango Bhadha, Jehangir Bhadha, Maria Silveira, Range Cattle Research And Education Center, Soil Health, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, USDA-NIFA

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