Feb 26, 2026CDFA awards $1.69 million in grants to advance irrigation, nutrient management research
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has awarded $1.69 million through its Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) to support six new research, outreach and education projects aimed at improving irrigation and nutrient management practices for California growers.
Funded through the competitive FREP Grant Program, the projects span applied research and grower-focused outreach, with goals that include better water quality, reduced nitrate leaching and enhanced nutrient efficiency. Since 1991, FREP has invested more than $32 million in over 280 projects across California’s key cropping systems.
Projects of interest to nut growers include:
- Almond orchard nitrogen and water management — Led by Thomas Harter at UC Davis, this study will evaluate high-frequency, low-concentration (HFLC) fertigation and agricultural managed aquifer recharge (AgMAR) in almond orchards. Researchers aim to measure water quality impacts, soil nutrient dynamics and irrigation uniformity, with results feeding extension outreach and modeling tools used by regional water regulators.
- Nitrogen runoff measurement — UC Cooperative Extension (Los Angeles County) will quantify nitrogen losses under different irrigation and fertility methods, developing best management practices that can be shared with growers.
- Organic nutrient management tools — Soil Health Lab LLC will develop diagnostic decision-support tools for site-specific nitrogen management in organic systems, adaptable for organic nut producers.
- Remote sensing for irrigation and nitrogen optimization — A UC Riverside-led project will refine irrigation and nitrogen recommendations using drone and satellite models, with potential applications for perennial crops including nuts.
Other projects focus on collaborative nutrient management outreach in Southern California and improving water-nitrogen efficiency in avocado systems, demonstrating the broader value of optimized nutrient and irrigation strategies for perennial and orchard crops.
CDFA’s FREP program continues to translate research into practical tools for growers, helping optimize fertilizer and water use while protecting environmental quality.
