UC Davis ʼ Dr. Thomas Harter describes his ongoing research on nitrogen application and leaching during the tour
Abhijeet Kulkarni, ABC’s principal of technical and trade issues, described the significance of directly engaging regulators in orchard settings. “Fundamentally, it’s about outreach to various regulatory agencies that impact our industry,” Kulkarni explained. “Many of these decision makers don't have extensive backgrounds in agriculture, so this tour provides them with the context needed to fully appreciate what growers deal with on a day-to-day basis.” A key feature of the tour was a longer-term nitrogen research project led by UC Davis’ Dr. Thomas Harter, examining the impact of moving to high frequency, low dose nitrogen applications on the potential for off-site movement of nitrogen. With 21 groundwater monitoring wells and sophisticated analysis of nitrogen movement, this multi-disciplinary research provides unique data on agricultural practices’ influence on groundwater quality and greenhouse gas emissions. And it is one of the few locations where current models of leaching are being fact checked.
Early findings indicate significant reductions in nitrogen leaching below the root zone, demonstrating the practice change not only improves nitrogen use efficiency, but can decrease environmental impacts. “This research allows regulators to see, firsthand, the industry´s proactive efforts to minimize environmental impact through scientifically informed practices,” Kulkarni noted. Following the orchard tour, participants gathered for lunch at Marlin Flory’s barn, where ABC staff, led by ABC’s director of environmental policy, Gabriele Ludwig, presented additional updates on current stewardship research and outreach efforts. This session sparked active dialogue, with regulatory staff posing thoughtful questions about irrigation practices, almond byproduct utilization, and other aspects of almond production.
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JULY–AUGUST 2025
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