{"id":184,"date":"2017-03-14T07:57:16","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T14:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/?p=184"},"modified":"2026-04-02T13:09:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:09:22","slug":"research-update-data-driven-nitrate-leaching-hazard-index-and-bmp-assessment-tool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/research-update-data-driven-nitrate-leaching-hazard-index-and-bmp-assessment-tool\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Update: Data Driven Nitrate Leaching Hazard Index and BMP Assessment Tool"},"content":{"rendered":"

Research Project:<\/strong> A Data Driven Nitrate Leaching Hazard Index and BMP Assessment Tool – O\u2019Geen, A. et al.<\/em><\/p>\n

Status:<\/strong> Second year of a three year study<\/p>\n

\"Figure<\/a>

Figure 1. Spatial distribution of simulated travel times for a HYDRUS model map of nitrate leaching (50% complete).<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Issue: <\/strong>California growers are faced with the challenge of producing high-quality crops while minimizing the movement of fertilizer nitrogen to groundwater. One major difficulty is identifying the growing areas that have a high risk for nitrate leaching to groundwater. To identify those high risk areas, a relatively simple tool, called the Nitrate Hazard Index (NHI), was developed over a decade ago by researchers at the University of California. However, this tool is difficult to update and does not provide management options to protect groundwater resources.\u00a0 Drs. Anthony O\u2019Geen and Jan Hopmans of UC Davis are currently working on a FREP-funded project to modernize and improve the NHI. The objectives of this work are to: (1) create a digital database of soil survey information for modeling, (2) model nitrate leaching in soil profile using the soil and water model HYDRUS for different crop classes and irrigation types (see Figure 1), (3) develop an interactive app in Google Maps that enables users to obtain NHI ratings for any agricultural soil and major crop under different irrigation scenarios and (4) link model outcomes with best management practices in order to promote practices that limit nitrate leaching.<\/p>\n

Methods\/Locations: <\/strong>This is a modelling\/laboratory study being conducted at UC Davis.<\/p>\n

Main findings: <\/strong>To date, the researchers have completed the database and are populating the HYDRUS model with soil, crop and climate data. They have also completed test simulations with the HYDRUS model and will soon begin real-world simulations. In the coming year, the researchers will begin work on the interactive app and product outreach. The project is due to be completed at the end of 2017 and FREP will provide an update upon project completion.<\/p>\n

Potential Impact: <\/strong>The tools proposed in this project have potential for considerable impact because they will be easy-to-use, spatially relevant and focus on a sustainable water resource, which is a critical issue that affects most agricultural enterprises. Online and mobile apps are revolutionizing the way science is used today. The CA Soil Resource Lab\u2019s SoilWeb apps<\/a> have had significant impact state- and nation-wide with over 5,000 queries for information per day. The nitrate leaching hazard index app will be linked with SoilWeb to take advantage of its widespread use.<\/p>\n

Full Project Report: <\/strong>https:\/\/www.cdfa.ca.gov\/is\/docs\/14-0452-OGeen.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Research Project: A Data Driven Nitrate Leaching Hazard Index and BMP Assessment Tool – O\u2019Geen, A. et al. Status: Second year of a three year study Issue: California growers are faced with the challenge of producing high-quality crops while minimizing the movement of fertilizer nitrogen to groundwater. One major difficulty is identifying the growing areas that have a high risk …<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":5516,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[86],"tags":[273,58],"class_list":["post-184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all","tag-grower-decision-support-tool","tag-nitrogen-management"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9r16A-2Y","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":235,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/research-update-improving-n-use-efficiency-of-cool-season-vegetables-with-broccoli-rotations\/","url_meta":{"origin":184,"position":0},"title":"Research Update: Improving N Use Efficiency of Cool Season Vegetables with Broccoli Rotations","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"July 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Research Project: Improving N Use Efficiency of Cool Season Vegetable Production Systems with Broccoli Rotations. Smith R. et al. Status: Completed Issue: The cool season vegetable production areas of the California\u2019s Central Coast frequently grow two or three crops during the growing season. The dominant crops\u2014like lettuce and spinach\u2014require high\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All"","block_context":{"text":"All","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"photograph of a field of vegetables","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_5337-300x199.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":189,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/research-update-fertilizer-value-of-nitrogen-in-irrigation-water\/","url_meta":{"origin":184,"position":1},"title":"Research Update: Fertilizer Value of Nitrogen in Irrigation Water","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"February 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Research Project: Determining the Fertilizer Value of Ambient Nitrogen in Irrigation Water - Cahn, M. et al. Status: Final year of study Issue: Irrigation water from many wells on the Central Coast contains a significant amount of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). The N content in irrigation water has not been accounted for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All"","block_context":{"text":"All","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Manifold and injection system used for simulating irrigation water with different concentrations of nitrate-N.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Cahn-blog-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":334,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/grants-to-begin-funding-january-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":184,"position":2},"title":"Grants to Begin Funding January 2018","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"January 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is pleased to announce the award of almost $800,000 in grant funds to agricultural organizations and universities this year. These grants will fund four projects that will improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FREP Grant Program"","block_context":{"text":"FREP Grant Program","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/frep-grant-program\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":228,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/research-update-train-the-trainer\/","url_meta":{"origin":184,"position":3},"title":"Research Update: Train the Trainer","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"August 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Research Project: Train the Trainer: A Nitrogen Management Training Program for Growers. Klassen, P. et al. Status: Second year of a three year study Issue: Growers who belong to California\u2019s Central Valley Water Quality Coalitions and who are in designated high vulnerability areas are under new Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All"","block_context":{"text":"All","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Larry Schwankl, UCCE Irrigation Specialist, presenting to CCAs at a Train the Trainer course in November 2015.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/LS-trains-trainers-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1252,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/nitrate-quick-test\/","url_meta":{"origin":184,"position":4},"title":"Nitrate Quick Test","author":"Brooke Elliot","date":"June 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The nitrate quick test (NQT) is a cost-effective tool that can be used in nutrient management planning to determine the residual soil nitrate concentration. The results from the test can be used to improve fertilizer management and assist growers in accurately meeting crop needs. 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