Grapes

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.

  • 2025 FREP-funded projects
  • Reducing Orchard Nitrate Leaching to Groundwater with HFLC and AgMAR: Ground-Truthing and Guiding the ILRP Assessment Tool (25-0499), Thomas Harter
  • Nitrogen Runoff and Leaching Loss from Nursery Production (25-0500), Christopher Shogren
  • Development of Diagnostic Tools to Support Site-Specific N Management Decisions in Organic Cropping Systems (25-0501), Paul Zerbe
  • Advancing Irrigation and Nitrogen Management of Cantaloupe in Southern California using Field Experiments and Remote Sensing (25-0502), Amir Verdi
  • Nutrient Management: A Collaborative Approach between Agriculture and Regulatory Programs in the San Diego Region (25-0503), Valerie Mellano
  • Developing Tools and Information to Enhance Water-Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Sustainability of Avocado Production Systems (25-0504), Ali Montazar
  • 2024 FREP-funded projects
  • A science-based and interactive website for nutrient management in organic crop production (24-0474), Daniel Geisseler
  • Determination of crop N‐removal coefficient values for the Imperial and Coachella Valleys cropping systems (24-0475), Ali Montazar
  • Monitoring and assessing variability of nutrient status in almond orchards with hyperspectral satellite imagery empowered by artificial intelligence (24-0476), Yufang Jin
  • Development of Three Citrus Modules in The Decision Support Tool CropManage for Orange, Mandarin, and Lemon (24-0477), Ken Miller
  • Equity in Nutrient Management Education on the Central Coast of CA (24-0478), Nathan Harkleroad
  • 2023 FREP-funded projects
  • Optimizing Potassium Fertilization Management in Almond and Pistachio Orchards (23-0526)
    Patrick Brown
  • Estimating Mineralization and Nitrogen Utilization from Banded Compost Applications in Drip Irrigated Sweetpotatoes and Processing Tomatoes (23-0522)
    Daniel Geisseler
  • Improving Nitrogen and Potassium Management in Almond Orchards with Hulls and Shells as a Soil Amendment and Offground Harvest (23-0525)
    Sat Darshan Khalsa
  • Nitrogen Movement Out of Root-Zones in Central Valley Irrigated Lands: A Multi-Scale Management, Monitoring, Modeling, and Outreach Project (23-0523)
    Isaya Kisekka
  • No-till planting of Rice to Conserve Water and Ensure the Sustainability of Rice Systems (23-0524)
    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 (23-0519)
    Sacha Lozano
  • 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 FREP-funded projects
  • Nutrient Management and Irrigation Efficiency Outreach and Education for Latino and Southeast Asian Farmers (21-0573)
    Carmen Carrasco
  • 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
  • 2020 FREP-funded projects
  • “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
  • 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 FREP-funded projects
  • Developing a Nitrogen Mineralization Model for Organically Managed Vegetable Farms on the Central Coast
    Joji Muramoto, Richard Smith and Mike Cahn

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.