Soil health is crucial for organic farm management. A key question is how diversification practices, like crop rotations and cover crops, affect nitrogen availability from soil organic matter. This impacts the timing and choice of organic fertilizer application on diversified farms. This project aims to support farmers in Yolo County, California, by providing technical assistance and a community for informed nutrient management. Specifically, it will examine how diversification practices and organic fertilizers influence soil nitrogen flows.

While nitrogen mineralization has been studied, this project takes a new approach by quantifying nitrogen fluxes on organic farms. Unlike past studies that focused on nitrogen pools or indirect indicators, we will measure gross nitrogen mineralization directly. By combining farmers’ knowledge with technical measurements, we aim to offer precise information that helps organic farmers make better decisions about fertilizer use, ultimately reducing costs and environmental impacts from nutrient losses.