Research & Project Database

Fertilizer Research And Education Program

Research and Project Database

Since 1990, FREP has funded research on many of California’s important and environmentally sensitive cropping systems. This database aims to make the wealth of information contained in FREP research projects available, understandable, and convenient for growers to implement. See the Crop Fertilization Guidelines for tips on how to improve nutrient management, based on information gleaned from research.

Current Projects

The following is a list of FREP projects that are currently being conducted. Each title links to the project's approved proposal and scope of work. Summaries of many of these projects are featured in previous FREP Conference Proceedings.

Copies of interim and annual project reports are available by contacting FREP at (916) 900-5022 or FREP@cdfa.ca.gov.

Current Projects

2023

2023 FREP-funded projects
Optimizing Potassium Fertilization Management in Almond and Pistachio Orchards
Patrick Brown
Estimating Mineralization and Nitrogen Utilization from Banded Compost Applications in Drip Irrigated Sweetpotatoes and Processing Tomatoes
Daniel Geisseler
Improving Nitrogen and Potassium Management in Almond Orchards with Hulls and Shells as a Soil Amendment and Offground Harvest
Sat Darshan Khalsa
Nitrogen Movement Out of Root-Zones in Central Valley Irrigated Lands: A Multi-Scale Management, Monitoring, Modeling, and Outreach Project
Isaya Kisekka
No-till planting of Rice to Conserve Water and Ensure the Sustainability of Rice Systems
Bruce Linquist
Facilitating Grower Adoption of Cover Crop Nitrogen Scavenging to Minimize Residual Nitrogen Loss and Comply with the Irrigated Lands Water Quality Protection Program (Ag Order 4.0) on the Central Coast of CA
Sacha Lozano

2022

2022 FREP-funded projects
Developing Tools and Information on Irrigation and Nitrogen Best Management Practices in California’s Low Desert Lettuce Production Systems (22-1312) Ali Montazar
The Role of Irrigation Management for Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency for Broccoli Grown with Nitrate-Contaminated Irrigation Water (22-1454) Charlotte Decock
Development of Precision Yield Monitor for Almond and Pistachio (22-1455)

2021

2021 FREP-funded projects
Targeted Nitrogen and Irrigation Education in California’s Nitrate Impacted Regions (21-0502)
Doug Parker
Nutrient Management and Irrigation Efficiency Outreach and Education for Latino and Southeast Asian Farmers (21-0573)
Carmen Carrasco
Nitrogen Fertilizer and Irrigation Best Management Practices for the Low Desert Sudangrass Production Systems (21-0586)
Oli Bachie
Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilizer Concentrations in Vegetable Transplant Production (21-0587)
Lorence Oki
Quantify and Model Overlooked Pathways of Nitrogen Loss From Organic Inputs Across Contrasting Soil Types (21-0588)
Timothy Bowles
Distributed Water and Fertilizer Delivery for Minimizing Nitrogen Losses by Leaching and Volatilization (21-0594)
Teamrat A. Ghezzehei

2020

2020 FREP-funded projects
Assessment of Nitrogen Content of the Harvested Portion of Specialty Crops to Estimate Crop Nitrogen Removal and Improve Nitrogen Management in Crops (20-0250)
Richard Smith and Michael Cahn
“Crop Nutrient Minute” Video Series (20-0877)
Parry Klassen
Ventura County Nitrogen Management Training Program (20-0878)
Jodi Switzer
Assessment of Harvested and Sequestered Nitrogen Content to Improve Nitrogen Management in Crops, Phase 2 (20-0879)
Charlotte Gallock
Development of site-specific nitrogen fertilization recommendations for annual crops (20-0880)
Daniel Geisseler
Enhancing Nitrogen and Water Use Efficiency in California Carrot Production Through Management Tools and Practices (20-0960)
Aliasghar Montazar
Certification and Distance Learning for Fertigation (20-0961)
Charles M. Burt
Outreach and revenue generation for sustaining CropManage irrigation and nutrient management decision support tool (20-0962)
Michael Cahn
Nitrogen Response of Industrial Hemp Cultivars Grown for CBD, Essential Oils (20-0964)
Robert Hutmacher
Techniques to minimize nitrate loss from the root zone during managed aquifer recharge (20-1019)
Anthony Toby O’Geen

2019

2019 FREP-funded projects
Development of Nutrient Management Budget and Nutrient Demand Model for Nitrogen Management in Cherry
Patrick Brown, Douglas Amaral and Pedro Lima
Irrigation and Nitrogen Management, Monitoring, and Assessment to Improve Nut Production while Minimizing Nitrate Leaching to Groundwater
Thomas Harter, Patrick Brown and Isaya Kisekka
Developing a Nitrogen Mineralization Model for Organically Managed Vegetable Farms on the Central Coast
Joji Muramoto, Richard Smith and Mike Cahn
Next Generation N Management Training for Certified Crop Advisors
Doug Parker et al.
Immobilization of Nitrate in Winter-Fallow Vegetable Production Beds to Reduce Nitrate Leaching
Richard Smith, Michael Cahn, Joji Muramoto and Daniel Geisseler

2018

2018 FREP-funded projects
Pima Cotton Nitrogen Management, Uptake, Removal - Impacts of Varieties, Subsurface Drip and Furrow Irrigation (18-0597)
Robert Hutmacher

2017

2017 FREP-funded projects
Evaluation of Nitrogen Uptake and Applied Irrigation Water in Asian Vegetables; Bok Choy, Edible Chrysanthemums, Garlic Chives, Moringa and Lemongrass (17-0515)
Aparna Gazula

Completed Projects

The following is a list of completed FREP projects. Each title links to a PDF of the project's final report. Summaries of many of these projects are available in the FREP Research Database andFREP Conference Proceedings. Some Project Leaders have published their results in academic journals. Reprints of the journal publications may be requested directly from the corresponding authors.

Completed Projects