Integrated Cropping Systems

Sustainable agricultural production is a national priority, which can be achieved by reducing environmental footprint, increasing farm profitability, and improving climate resiliency. Large-scale farming operations in the Western Colorado have relied significantly on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as use of intensive tillage and inefficient furrow irrigation system.

Although these inputs have assisted the agricultural enterprise in consistently increasing yields over many decades, they have also cut off the natural agroecological system responsible for dynamic nutrient cycling, soil water retention, and overall system resiliency.

Our work is to minimize the need for external synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer application through the integrated use of legume winter cover crops, enhanced efficiency N-fertilizers, and precision N management in corn and wheat systems.

Research Projects

Current research in integrated cropping systems falls into into three categories:

1. Enhancing the climate resiliency of crop production systems through improved nutrient and water use efficiency
2. Generating research-based information on forage crops and crop mixtures for improved forage quantity and quality with an emphasis on reduced methane emissions in livestock production systems and sustainability.
3. Identify alternative crops with high water use efficiency that fit in to the existing crop.