Position title:
Vegetable Crop Nutrient Management Specialist
Position description:
This position will provide statewide research and extension leadership in the development of
improved nutrient management practices for enhanced crop production efficiency and
environmental protection. Although the emphasis will be on vegetable crop production, extension
of the management principles developed by this individual to other crops will be encouraged
through collaborative work with other scientists. The educational and professional requirements
are a PhD in horticulture, agronomy, soil science, soil-water-plant relations, agroecology or closely
related discipline. Experience in vegetable production, irrigated agriculture, and interdisciplinary
research is desirable. Supporting and collaborating units include CE Advisors and Specialists, AES
faculty in Plant Sciences and discipline-oriented departments at UCD (Land, Air and Water
Resources, Biological & Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural and Resource Economics), the UC
Agricultural Sustainability Institute and USDA scientists.
Justification:
Nutrient management has become a paramount concern for the vegetable industry. As vegetable
production systems intensify and yield expectations rise, soil fertility management practices must
be continually updated to maintain peak production. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers, and expanded
options for soil and plant nutrient monitoring made possible by new sensing and communication
technology, need to be evaluated and integrated into existing production systems. Sustainability
issues regarding mineral fertilizer use (i.e. resource depletion, soil health maintenance) are also
significant concerns. Most importantly, increasing regulation of nutrient management both for
environmental water quality protection and greenhouse gas reduction presents a formidable
challenge to the industry. In both the Central Valley and the Central Coast production areas
vegetable growers are under intense regulatory scrutiny for contributing to nitrate pollution of
groundwater, and eutrophication of surface water. Similarly, the connection between nitrogen
fertilization practices and the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O, a potent greenhouse gas) has drawn
the attention of air quality regulators. In tackling these challenges this specialist would address
core concerns of the Sustainable Food Systems and Water Quality, Quantity and Security ANR
strategic initiatives.
Extension:
This specialist will provide leadership and coordination among campus faculty, CE Specialists and
Advisors, USDA and NRCS personnel, government regulatory agencies and industry groups involved
with commercial vegetable production. This individual will contribute to existing outreach
structures (UC Research and Information Centers, UCCE workgroups, Commodity Research Boards,
etc.), and will also be expected to expand outreach to new clientele groups using new electronic and
social media methods. The focus of the Extension education program will depend on the
incumbent’s applied research program, but it is expected that outreach will encompass both the
agronomic and regulatory aspects of nutrient management.
Research:
Research will focus on maintaining economically viable conventional and organic vegetable
production while improving resource use efficiency and reducing off-farm impact of nutrient
discharges. Areas of inquiry may include fertilizer technology, application techniques, crop and soil
nutrient monitoring, irrigation/nutrient management interactions, soil nutrient cycling, and
environmental remediation of nutrient discharges. Publication outlets could include professional
journals in horticulture, agronomy, soil science and environmental science as well as semi-technical
and industry trade magazines, both print and electronic.
ANR network:
Many AES scientists are interested in various aspects of crop nutrient management (soil fertility,
irrigation, agricultural sustainability, environmental protection, etc.); this includes soil scientists,
agroecologists, hydrologists, agricultural engineers and economists. This individual would be in a
unique position to build multi-disciplinary teams to address complex agronomic and environmental
problems associated with nutrient management. Close collaboration with County Farm Advisors
will be expected to effectively address specific regional concerns.
Network external to ANR:
Crop nutrient management is of intense interest to both State and Federal regulatory agencies;
reducing nitrate contamination of drinking water, and minimizing eutrophication of surface water
bodies are regulatory priorities. Additionally, N2O emission is thought to constitute up to half of the
greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in California; nitrogen fertilizer management is
fundamental to limiting N2O emission. This individual would be an essential resource to inform
regulatory agencies (i.e. statewide or regional Water Quality Control Boards, California Air
Resources Board), and to interact with USDA ARS and NRCS colleagues of similar interests.
Support:
The Plant Sciences Department at UC Davis will provide office, laboratory, field and greenhouse
facilities, administrative support, communication and information technology services. Direct
financial support would include a startup package as well as the CAES allocation for CE Specialist
support. However, the majority of research and extension activities will be supported by external
funding.
Other support:
Numerous sources of financial and logistical support would be available to this position. These
include commodity groups like the California Leafy Greens Research Board and the California
Tomato Research Institute, both of which have a history of supporting nutrient management
research. State support could come from the CDFA Fertilizer Research and Education Program, the
statewide or regional Water Quality Control Boards, or the Air Resources Board. Support through
the Federal Specialty Crop, Organic and Watershed grant programs would also be possible. Projects
demonstrating improved nutrient management practices at a farm scale may also be attractive to
NRCS-funded conservation programs.
Location:
This position will be located in the Plant Sciences Department at UC Davis, recognized as the leading
vegetable research and extension university/institution in the world. Numerous faculty and CE
specialists with interests related to nutrient management and environmental protection are located
in this department and in nearby discipline-oriented departments.
Proposed by:
This position was developed by the Plant Sciences Department, after consultation with members of
the ANR Vegetable Crops Program Team. External stakeholder groups consulted in the
development of this position include the California Leafy Greens Research Board and the statewide
Water Resources Control Board, both of which are strongly supportive.