Previous Research

Transformation of organic waste by BSF larvae provides proteins for animal feed and an organic fertilizer with a reduced carbon footprint. However, this process can result in high N loss via air pollutant and GHG emissions. Treatment of organic waste through bokashi anaerobic fermentation may allow for greater digestibility to increase larval growth while reducing gaseous N losses, thereby increasing the efficiency of this process and lowering negative environmental impacts.

Carbon based organic fertilizers can provide an alternative to synthetic fertilizer. However, their utilization, especially bokashi fermented organic waste, has been understudied in the context of vegetable and fruit tree production. This research is pivotal for understanding the release of nutrients and potentially toxic elements from these amendments as their potential towards a circular nutrient economy. 

In California's vast diary industry, stockpiled solid dairy manure may be applied to fields as fertilizer and to add organic matter to soils, but large GHG fluxes may occur. The production and land application of dairy biochar & anaerobic digestate may allow for GHG emissions offsets while contributing to soil health by sequestering carbon & increasing net primary productivity. However, laboratory and field research is necessary to understand impacts on greenhouse gas emission and biogeochemical cycling from field application of anaerobically digested or pyrolyzed dairy manure. 

Small grians crop growers need to apply N fertilizers to meet crop demands. But fertilizer application can be hard to predict under variable climates and managements and over application can lead to nitrate leaching. The soil nitrate quicktest is an cheap and quick, inexpensive, and easy to use tool to provide a site specific soil nitrate estimates in to the field. This test along with information about the soil bulk density and extraction method can be used to improve fertilzer use efficiency for growers. 

There is growing interest in perennial wheat as a multipurpose and sustainable crop.  Previous research has shown that perennial crops provide many ecosystems services by increasing soil conservation, primary production, N cycling efficiencies, and maintenance of soil C pools. However, Kernza’s ability to be profitable and sustainable under California growing conditions is not fully researched. 

Though biochar is a sorbent of hydrophobic compounds, evidence suggests it can help reduce petroleum hydrocarbons through sorption and enhanced bioremediation. However, there are many unknown factors like biochar source material, pyrolysis temperature, and molecular structure affecting the persistence of reactivity of environmental pollutants. Further research is needed to explore biochar as low cost remediation strategy for oil contaminated soils.