{"id":2775,"date":"2026-04-27T10:43:55","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T17:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/?p=2775"},"modified":"2026-04-27T10:43:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T17:43:55","slug":"observations-from-the-field-central-coast-growers-adopt-winter-cover-crops-to-improve-nitrogen-use-efficiency-and-facilitate-regulatory-compliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/FREP\/index.php\/observations-from-the-field-central-coast-growers-adopt-winter-cover-crops-to-improve-nitrogen-use-efficiency-and-facilitate-regulatory-compliance\/","title":{"rendered":"Observations from the Field: Central Coast Growers Adopt Winter Cover Crops to Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Facilitate Regulatory Compliance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Note: This is part of a Research and Outreach Update series that highlights projects funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture\u2019s (CDFA) <\/em>Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) annual grant program<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Title: <\/strong>Facilitating Grower Adoption of Cover Crop Nitrogen Scavenging to Minimize Residual Nitrogen Loss and Comply with the Irrigated Lands Water Quality Protection Program (Ag Order 4.0) on the Central Coast of California<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Leader: <\/strong>Sacha Lozano, Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Cooperators and Supporters: <\/strong>Kasey Butler, Resource Conservation District of Monterey County; Elliot Grant, Sustainable Conservation; Dr. Eric Brennan, United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Status: <\/strong>Third year<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Locations: <\/strong>Santa Cruz and Monterey counties<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overview:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project uses outreach, education, and technical assistance to facilitate grower adoption of winter cover cropping for nitrogen (N) scavenging on California\u2019s Central Coast. Cover cropping is one of several soil management practices that can help recover and recycle N through \u2018N scavenging,\u2019 or the use of a cover crop to take up the excess N derived from fertilizer, as well as soil organic matter and crop residue mineralization from the previous crop. The aim of the project is to help growers adopt cover crops to improve N management by demonstrating research-based methods to easily and confidently estimate cover crop biomass, carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio, and associated N uptake. This work also assists growers with Irrigation and Nitrogen Management Plan (INMP) reporting to meet regulatory targets outlined by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board in Ag Order 4.0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FREP staff routinely visit funded projects during grant implementation to meet with project leaders, view research plots, observe outreach events, and review grant progress. In February 2026, FREP\u2019s Karen Adler toured the fields of seven participating producers who were growing winter cover crops and discussed the project\u2019s successes and challenges with project organizers Sacha Lozano and Elliot Grant. More information on the background and earlier accomplishments of the project can be found in this Research Update<\/a> from last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accomplishments:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n