Biochar, a byproduct of the pyrolysis of crop residues or animal waste, has gained significant interest in recent years as a climate-smart soil amendment; however, its effects on soil greenhouse gas emissions are not well understood. This study evaluated the combined effects of organic cotton residue biochar, cover crops, and poultry litter on soil CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions.

Biostimulants are substances that, when applied to plants or to the rhizosphere, can enhance nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency. This study, conducted by the University of Arizona, Yuma, investigated the effects of biostimulant application on the growth, development, and yield of iceberg lettuce under organic and conventional production systems.

Near-real-time nitrate-N sensors are a promising solution for monitoring soil N availability continuously within a crop’s active root zone. This study, conducted by the University of Arizona, evaluated the performance of near-real-time nitrate-N technology under organic and conventional iceberg lettuce production systems using subsurface drip irrigation.

Production and acreage of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) boomed in the US after its legalization in 2018, and many producers are interested in growing this crop for its uses in industries such as human and animal food, construction, and textiles. However, many knowledge gaps and barriers still exist in regards to production, processing, and supply chains. This study conducted a national survey and focus groups to identify resource needs and barriers in the US hemp market.

Propane-fueled flame weeding is an alternative to chemical weed control in conventional and organic soybean cropping systems. This study, conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, investigated the impacts of flame weeding timing (vegetative vs. reproductive crop growth stage), torch height, and propane dose on soybean grain yield.

Emissions of greenhouse gasses in agricultural systems contribute to climate change. Cover crops can be grown to replace fallow periods and provide a number of ecosystem benefits, particularly those related to soil health and emissions from soil. This study evaluated the effects of cover crop monocultures and mixtures on greenhouse gas emissions, soil moisture, and soil temperature in organic cotton systems.

Managing soil health and crop nutrients while also maintaining or improving crop yields can be a challenging balance for organic farmers. Native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation can provide benefits to both soil and crop health through symbiotic relationships. In this study, various tomato and pepper cultivars were inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from a native grassland, and the resulting effects on crop number and biomass during weekly harvests were examined.

Comparing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions between cropping systems can be an effective way of identifying GHG hotspots and developing targeted reduction strategies. This study, conducted in Bozeman, MT, evaluated how cropping system (organic vs. conventional) and cropping sequence impacted agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in a winter wheat-based crop rotation.

Soil N and P deficiencies contribute to organic wheat yield losses in the Northwest and Plains regions. Legume green manure crops can help alleviate this soil fertility issue; however, these crops can compete with wheat for soil moisture during years with limited precipitation. This study evaluated the impact of cattle manure application as an alternative to legume green manures on organic wheat yield and quality.

Organic weed management is challenging due to the variable efficacy of individual strategies, but combining multiple strategies has the potential to increase weed control. This study evaluated the impact of mechanical and cultural weed management strategies, alone and in combination, on crop density, crop yield, and weed biomass in organic chickpea.

The Long-Term Crop Rotation experiment in Mead, NE is one of the longest-running U.S. studies comparing the soil health impacts and yield outcomes of conventional and organic field crop agriculture. This resource provides a summary of some of the key findings from the 13 years after the 1996 experimental redesign (1996-2008).

Cyanobacterial fertilizers are an alternative to traditional liquid fish fertilizers and can be produced on-farm at a relatively low cost; as such, they have the potential to be sustainable sources of N fertilization for organic cropping systems. This study evaluated the impact of liquid organic fertilizers (fish and cyanobacterial) and foliar seaweed extracts on carrot yield and quality.

There are a variety of organic N sources available for farmers to choose from, so understanding the differences in crop responses to individual fertilizers is crucial. This study assessed the impacts of four organic N fertilizers (fish emulsion, cyanofertilizer, blood meal, and feather meal) on the water use efficiency of drip-irrigated sweet corn in Colorado.

Managing for insect pests, including the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica), is a significant challenge in alfalfa production systems. This study assessed the impacts of alfalfa harvest timing on alfalfa weevil survival and crop damage across a wide geographic range in the Intermountain Western United States.

Canada thistle is among the most difficult weeds to manage in temperate agricultural production systems. Traditional methods of managing Canada thistle include tillage, mowing, and repeated herbicide applications; however, additional control methods are sought-after. Puccinia punctiformis, a rust fungus that targets Canada thistle, is a potential biological control agent. This study assessed the efficacy of Puccinia inoculation to successfully induce rust disease outbreaks in Canada thistle populations.

Mustard seed meal extract is an emerging soil amendment for organic production. This study looked at the potential for the extract to improve soil health and nutrient status in organic potato systems.

Throughout the Northern Great Plains, Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a problematic perennial weed in organic systems. The main objective of this study was to identify crop sequences and tillage regimes that could suppress Canada thistle in organic wheat systems.

High demand for organic dairy and meat in recent years has increased the need for organic forage. Organic growers may consider incorporating an annual summer forage crop into their crop rotation. This study assessed the impacts of fresh dairy manure and composted dairy manure on short-term N mineralization, microbial biomass, and forage crop N uptake/yield in a summer teff production system.

It can be difficult to predict how changes in agricultural management practices may impact an agroecosystem's overall GHG emissions. This study examined the effects of cover crops on soil CO2 and N2O emissions after the first year of organic-transition corn across topographically diverse agricultural landscapes.

Organic agricultural systems, which rely upon a greater understanding and management of complex, natural biological and biogeochemical processes, may not be accurately evaluated within existing GHG emission tools, which were developed to monitor emissions from conventional systems. This study presents a review and synthesis of recent efforts to improve two well-established GHG decision support tools (COMET-Farm and the Cool Farm Tool) to better represent organic management scenarios.