**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** RESEARCH TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF SHORT- AND LONG-TERM AGRONOMIC PRACTICES ON SOIL HEALTH IS NEEDED IN THE MIDSOUTHERN US IRRIGATED ROW CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEMS. THEREFORE, THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW SOIL CONSERVATION AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AFFECT SOIL HEALTH INDICES AND CROP YIELD IN THE MIDSOUTHERN US. WE AIM TO: I) IDENTIFY SOIL HEALTH INDICES THAT ARE SENSITIVE TO SHORT- AND LONG-TERM AGRONOMIC PRACTICES; II) INVESTIGATE IF SOIL HEALTH RATINGS FROM COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SOIL HEALTH INDICES ARE RELATED TO CROP YIELD; III) EVALUATE THE USE OF THE NITROGEN SOIL TEST FOR RICE (N-STAR) AS A SOIL HEALTH INDEX; IV) ASSESS THE IMPACT OF LONG-TERM FERTILIZATION ON CROP YIELD AND SOIL HEALTH; V) EVALUATE HOW SOIL TILLAGE PRACTICES AFFECT SOIL C SEQUESTRATION AND SOIL HEALTH IN IRRIGATED SYSTEMS; VI) INVESTIGATE HOW DIFFERENT COVER CROP SPECIES IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND SOIL C SEQUESTRATION; AND VII) DEMONSTRATE THAT SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES ADOPTED IN ARKANSAS DISCOVERY FARMS ARE IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH AND C SEQUESTRATION. WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON SOIL HEALTH INDICES (N>30) THAT INTEGRATE KEY SOIL FUNCTIONS IN SHORT- AND LONG-TERM TRIALS IN THE MIDSOUTHERN US. WE EXPECT TO DEMONSTRATE THE BENEFITS OF SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY WHILE MAINTAINING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY. THIS IS A KEY STEP TOWARDS DEVELOPING DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS AND INCREASING THE ADOPTION OF SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES, WHICH ARE PARAMOUNT FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE USE OF AGRICULTURAL LANDAND FOOD SECURITY.

Division Of Agriculture Of The University Of Arkansas

Investigators