Publications- journals, books, etc. Scientific Meetings

Public Information Meetings Popular publications

Farmer Information Meetings World Wide Web

International Panel on Climate Change Special Reports

Scientific Community (National and International)

Farmers, Ranchers, General Public

Colorado Certified Potato Growers’ Assoc.

Colorado Farm Bureau

Colorado Seed Industry Assoc.

Politicians, Policy Makers, and Congress

USDA-NRCS, Soil Conservation Districts

Educational and Research Institutions

Fertilizer Industry

Cooperative Extensions Service

State Agricultural Experiment Stations

Agribusiness and Private Industry

USDOE USAID IAEA USEPA

National Science Foundation

Press/Media/Agricultural Journalists

Commodity Groups, Farm Organizations

Professional Societies

Conservation Organizations

Numerous other public and private interests USDA-ARS-SPNR

Building D, Suite 100

2150 Centre Ave

Fort Collins, CO 80526

Phone: 970-492-7200

Fax: 970-492-7213

e-mail: ronald.follett@ars.usda.gov

Web Site: http//spnr.ars.usda.gov

Unit Scientists:Participated in development, refinement, and testing of NLEAP (Nitrogen

Leaching and Economic Analysis Program) that is having worldwide impact.

Developed best management practices (BMPs) for irrigated cropping systems to reduce NO3-N leaching, increase N use efficiency, reduce soil

erosion, and protect water quality.

Determined that controlled release N fertilizers can increase N use efficiency and reduces N losses to the environment.

Determined N and P fertilizer needs to optimize crop yields in irrigated and dryland cropping systems in the Great Plains.

Determined management (crop rotation, tillage, and fertility) impacts on soil C sequestration in irrigated, dryland, and biofuel cropping systems.

Determined conservation reserve program (CRP) management impacts on soil C sequestration.

Determined BMPs for converting CRP grassland back to cropland.

Estimated global trace gas budgets and participated in educating scientists and the public on climate change.

Determined the impacts of elevated carbon dioxide on rangeland productivity and biogeochemistry.

Improved methodologies for measuring greenhouse gas fluxes.

Developed improved bacterial inoculants for soybeans that are being used commercially to improve crop yield with a multi-million dollar annual impact.

Developed bioremediation technology to remove nitrate from groundwater.

Published numerous books and book chapters on managing carbon, nitrogen, and crop nutrients in agricultural systems.

Participated in development of better N management practices in numerous foreign countries to mitigate groundwater pollution problems, minimize greenhouse gas emissions, and improve N use efficiency.

Organized and participated in regional, national and international scientific meetings on nutrient management and global climate change.

ScientistsRonald Follett, RL

Jorge Delgado

Ardell Halvorson

William Hunter

Gordon Hutchinson

Arvin Mosier

Support StaffCharles Andre

Edward Buenger

Sue Crookall

Robin Montenieri

Patti Norris

Elizabeth Pruessner

Curtis Reule

Mary Smith

Stace Wilkins

Temporary StaffBradley Floyd

Karl Mauch

Anita Kear

Bill Morgan

Cathy Cannon (CSU)

David Jensen (CSU)

Gabe Smith (CSU)

Employees

CooperatorsUSDA-ARS Scientists at Other Locations

USDA-NRCS

Colorado State University - many departments

CSU Agricultural Research Centers

Farmers

Farm Organizations

Fertilizer Industry: Fluid Fertilizer Foundation, Potash and Phosphate Institute, The Fertilizer Institute

Cooperative Extension Service

Soil Conservation Districts

Land Grant and Other Universities

Colorado School of Mines

National Center For Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

Research Institutes in foreign countries - India, Japan, Thailand, China, Germany, Sweden, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Chile

SPNR Unit Customers

Research Capabilities

Technology Transfer

Location of Research Sites and Cooperators (red dots)Research Emphasis

Soil Management Soil and Water Quality

Nitrogen and Nutrient Management

Dryland and Irrigated Agriculture

Cropping and Tillage systems

Global Change Management of Trace Gases: Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous

Oxide, MethaneSoil Carbon Sequestration

Selected Research Impacts

MissionTo develop and evaluate new knowledge required to efficiently manage soil, fertilizer and plant nutrients (emphasis on nitrogen) to achieve optimum crop yields, maximize farm profitability, maintain environmental quality, and sustain long-term productivity.

USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Soil-Plant-Nutrient Research Unit, Fort Collins, Colorado

More Information

USDA-ARS Research Laboratory

2150 Centre Ave, Bldg. D, Fort Collins, CO

SOILSOIL--PLANTPLANT--NUTRIENT RESEARCHNUTRIENT RESEARCH

CROPPING SYSTEMS

SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION

GROUND WATER QUALITY

GRAZING LANDS

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

PRECISIONAGRICULTURE

IRRIGATION

NITROGEN USE

EFFICIENCY

Tillage, N Fertilization, and Crop Rotation Effects On Irrigated Crop Lands; Including C-sequestration and Green House Gas Emissions.

Wind Erosion

Conventional Tillage

No-Till