Two University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers have received nearly $1.6 million from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s Efficient Fertilizer Consortium to study how fertilizers perform under Midwestern growing conditions.
Andrew Margenot and John Jones, both faculty members in the Department of Crop Sciences and members of the Illinois Nutrient Stewardship Alliance, will lead complementary projects examining nitrogen and phosphorus management. Their work will measure crop response alongside nutrient runoff and leaching, generating practical information farmers can use to improve fertilizer efficiency and profitability.
The awards are part of a $9.3 million FFAR investment across 12 projects evaluating enhanced-efficiency fertilizers and related management practices in varied soils, cropping systems, and climates.
“Growers need robust, science-backed guidance for practical solutions that improve nutrient use efficiency in real-world conditions that reflect their own farming practices,” said Sarah Lyons, FFAR scientific program manager. “These investments support actionable research that can help farmers make better and more profitable management decisions to strengthen productivity and environmental stewardship.”
Margenot, who also serves as the associate director for the Agroecosystem Sustainability Center (ASC), received $768,000 to measure how enhanced nitrogen use efficiency fertilizer products and practices perform in tile-drained corn systems. The project will feature replicated evaluations of monitored subsurface tile drainage, enabling the team to evaluate fertilizer use efficiency and nitrogen losses through both gaseous emissions and leaching.
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University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.