According to a news release, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) secured $1.7 million in federal funding to advance research on sustainable agriculture practices.
This grant is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $90 million Conservation Innovation Grants program and will support two major research initiatives focused on agroforestry and nitrogen management in sugar beet production.
A grant of $1,116,149 will fund UNL’s research into sustainable nitrogen management for sugar beet production in Nebraska and Colorado. Collaborating with the Western Sugar Cooperative, the university will work with 50 growers to develop best practices that enhance sugar yields while promoting environmental sustainability.
Leading the project are Bijesh Maharjan, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture at UNL, and Rebecca Larson, chief scientist at Western Sugar Cooperative. This research builds on Maharjan’s earlier studies, aiming to optimize nitrogen application for improved root growth and sucrose production in sugar beets.
Additionally, UNL received a $682,335 grant to study alley cropping, an agroforestry method, as a sustainable land-use practice in the Midwest. The research will focus on finding the most effective tree-crop combinations, assessing the system’s resilience against climate change, and exploring policies that could support the adoption of alley cropping in the region.
Alley cropping, which combines agronomic and forestry practices, offers multiple benefits such as soil conservation, improved nutrient cycling, and better water management. This research aligns with the USDA’s larger mission to promote voluntary conservation practices that enhance sustainable agricultural production.
Rob Lawson, NRCS state conservationist for Nebraska, praised UNL’s legacy in agronomic research and its commitment to sustainability. “We remain committed to working with farmers, ranchers, and other partners in Nebraska to leverage resources and increase sustainable production benefits through voluntary conservation efforts,” Lawson said in the release.
