The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place Jan. 3 at noon CST will feature Mike Castellano, William T. Frankenberger Professor of Soil Science, Iowa State University. Castellano’s research focuses on biogeochemical cycling and transport within the soil as it extends to the atmosphere and subsoil. Working to maximize the productivity, profitability and environmental performance of crop production he employs a systems approach that considers genetics, environment and management.

In the webinar, “How do we Best Define and Promote Soil Health?,” Castellano will discuss the meaning of “soil health” within the context of yield, water quality and greenhouse gas emissions. He will place a special emphasis on use efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer and how it relates to a broad perspective of overall soil health.

“Defining soil health is complicated, but any definition must be measurable and defined on the basis of the outcomes that matter the most: productivity, profitability and environmental performance,” said Castellano. “We continue to make progress in our efforts to define and measure soil health, but there is still work to be done.”

Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

The webinar will also be recorded and archived. All archived webinars are available on the ILF website, so that they can be watched at any time. 

ILF has applied for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) for attending this webinar. Those who participate in the live webinar are eligible. Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live webinar.

Upcoming Webinars in the Series:

Up Next: Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, “Managing Saturated Buffers in a Flat Field: Impacts on Flow and Nitrate Load Treatment,” with Gabe Johnson, Iowa State University.
Jan. 17, 2024: Crystal Lu, Iowa State University
Jan. 24, 2024: Amanda Gumbert, University of Kentucky