Nutrient Management

The nutrient management program is focused on optimizing agricultural productivity while protecting the environment. The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences has a long history of soil fertility, nutrient management work, and protection of North Carolina’s soil and water resources.

Currently, our nutrient management program involves:

  • Development of efficient and environmentally sound fertilization programs for wine grapes, field crops, and biofuels.
  • Determination of nitrogen availability coefficients from organic sources.
  • Understanding of the chemistry and management of organic cropping systems.
  • Development and maintenance of nutrient decision support systems that both function at the watershed-scale and are applicable to field-scale soil fertility issues.
  • Site-specific soil fertility and productivity management, with an emphasis on remote sensing and related geospatial technologies. More detailed information about these programs can be found in the Geographic Information Sciences Program.
  • Tillage effects on nutrients, water storage, and physical properties.
  • Soil acidity management.
  • Training certified nutrient management planners.
  • Testing of soil biological activity to predict nitrogen mineralization.

In addition to the programs listed above, our nutrient management team are core members of the NC Interagency Nutrient Management Committee, responsible for the implementation of Nutrient Management Planning in North Carolina.

Crop and Soil Sciences Research