New soil sensor may improve efficiency of crop fertilization

New soil sensor may improve efficiency of crop fertilization

Science Notes: Accurate nitrogen detection could help farmers achieve optimal fertilization levels

Measuring temperature and nitrogen levels in soil is important for agriculture systems but detecting them apart from one another is difficult.  Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, an associate professor in engineering science and mechanics at Penn State, led researchers in the development of a multi-parameter sensor that can decouple temperature and nitrogen signals so that each can […] Read more

Dairy farmers can adapt to climate change

Dairy farmers can adapt to climate change

Science Notes: Warming climate worsens nutrient pollution but lengthens growing season

Dairy farmers in the northeastern region of North America are facing a warming climate that exacerbates nutrient pollution but lengthens the growing season.  However, they can reduce the environmental impact of their operations and maximize revenues by double cropping and injecting manure into the soil, rather than broadcasting it. That’s the conclusion of a team […] Read more


Riparian buffer designs studied included widths of 35 to 100 feet, some all grass, some all trees, and some – like the one shown – both trees and grass.

Harvesting riparian buffers sees little impact to water quality

Science Notes: Harvested vegetation could increase biofuel efforts

Allowing farmers to harvest vegetation from their riparian buffers will not significantly impede the ability of those streamside tracts to protect water quality by capturing nutrients and sediment – and it will boost farmers’ willingness to establish buffers. That is the conclusion of Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences researchers, who compared the impacts of […] Read more