# Presentation: 128118

## USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Soil-Plant-Nutrient Research Unit, Fort Collins, Colorado

- Publications- journals, books, etc.                     Scientific Meetings
- Public Information Meetings                              Popular publications
- Farmer Information Meetings                             World Wide Web
- International Panel on Climate Change             Special Reports

- Scientific Community (National and International)
- Farmers, Ranchers, General Public
- Colorado Certified Potato Growers’ Assoc.
- Colorado Farm Bureau
- Colorado Seed Industry Assoc.
- Politicians, Policy Makers, and Congress
- USDA-NRCS, Soil Conservation Districts
- Educational and Research Institutions
- Fertilizer Industry
- Cooperative Extensions Service
- State Agricultural Experiment Stations
- Agribusiness and Private Industry
- USDOE        USAID           IAEA       USEPA
- National Science Foundation
- Press/Media/Agricultural Journalists
- Commodity Groups, Farm Organizations
- Professional Societies
- Conservation Organizations
- Numerous other public and private interests

**USDA-ARS-SPNR**
**Building D, Suite 100**
**2150 Centre Ave**
**Fort Collins, CO  80526**
**Phone:  970-492-7200**
**Fax:  970-492-7213**
**e-mail: ronald.follett@ars.usda.gov**
**Web Site: http//spnr.ars.usda.gov**

**Unit Scientists**:
**Participated in development, refinement, and testing of NLEAP (Nitrogen Leaching and Economic Analysis Program) that is having worldwide impact.**
**Developed best management practices (BMPs) for irrigated cropping systems to reduce NO****3****-N leaching, increase N use efficiency, reduce soil erosion, and protect water quality.**
**Determined that controlled release N fertilizers can increase N use efficiency and reduces N losses to the environment.**
**Determined N and P fertilizer needs to optimize crop yields in irrigated and dryland cropping systems in the Great Plains.**
**Determined management (crop rotation, tillage, and fertility) impacts on soil C sequestration in irrigated, dryland, and biofuel cropping systems.**
**Determined conservation reserve program (CRP) management impacts on soil C sequestration.**
**Determined BMPs for converting CRP grassland back to cropland.**
**Estimated global trace gas budgets and participated in educating scientists and the public on climate change. **
**Determined the impacts of elevated carbon dioxide on rangeland productivity and biogeochemistry.**
**Improved methodologies for measuring greenhouse gas fluxes.**
**Developed improved bacterial inoculants for soybeans that are being used commercially to improve crop yield with a multi-million dollar annual impact.**
**Developed bioremediation technology to remove nitrate from groundwater.**
**Published numerous books and book chapters on managing carbon, nitrogen, and crop nutrients in agricultural systems.**
**Participated in development of better N management practices in numerous foreign countries to mitigate groundwater pollution problems, minimize greenhouse gas emissions,  and improve N use efficiency.**
**Organized and participated in regional, national and international scientific meetings on nutrient management and global climate change.**

**Scientists**
- Ronald Follett, RL
- Jorge Delgado
- Ardell Halvorson
- William Hunter
- Gordon Hutchinson
- Arvin Mosier
**Support Staff**
- Charles  Andre
- Edward Buenger
- Sue Crookall
- Robin Montenieri
- Patti Norris
- Elizabeth Pruessner
- Curtis Reule
- Mary Smith
- Stace Wilkins
**Temporary Staff**
- Bradley Floyd
- Karl Mauch
- Anita Kear
- Bill Morgan
- Cathy Cannon (CSU)
- David Jensen (CSU)
- Gabe Smith (CSU)

**Employees**

**Cooperators**

- USDA-ARS Scientists at Other Locations
- USDA-NRCS
- Colorado State University - many departments
- CSU Agricultural Research Centers
- Farmers
- Farm Organizations
- Fertilizer Industry:   Fluid Fertilizer Foundation, Potash and Phosphate Institute, The Fertilizer Institute
- Cooperative Extension Service
- Soil Conservation Districts
- Land Grant and Other Universities
- Colorado School of Mines
- National Center For Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
- Research Institutes in foreign countries - India, Japan, Thailand, China, Germany, Sweden, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Chile

**SPNR Unit Customers**

**Research Capabilities**

**Technology Transfer**

**Location of Research Sites and Cooperators ****(red dots)**

**Research**** ****Emphasis**

**Soil Management**
-   **Soil and Water Quality**
**  ****Nitrogen and Nutrient Management**
-   **Dryland and Irrigated Agriculture**
-   **Cropping and Tillage systems**

**Global Change**
**Management of Trace Gases:**
**     ****Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide,  Methane**
**Soil Carbon Sequestration**

**Selected Research Impacts**

**Mission**

**To develop and evaluate new knowledge required to efficiently manage soil, fertilizer and plant nutrients (emphasis on nitrogen) to achieve optimum crop yields, maximize farm profitability, maintain environmental quality, and sustain long-term productivity.**

**USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Soil-Plant-Nutrient Research Unit, Fort Collins, Colorado**

**More Information**

**USDA-ARS Research Laboratory**
**2150 Centre Ave, Bldg. D, Fort Collins, CO**