Investigator: Bruce Linquist, Dept. of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA
Project location: Richvale, California

Summary
In conjunction with Lundberg Family Farms we are addressing the problem that California organic rice growers have in choosing an efficacious, readily available and consistent method of fertilization. Although there are studies available on N fertility in organic rice, many of them focus on cover cropping as a solution. This is not viable on the heavy clay soils of the Sacramento Valley, thus we are evaluating alternative sources of N for organic rice production. We are working in collaboration with the Lundbergs, who are the largest growers of organic rice in California and have an extensive network of other growers (representing 75% of all the organic rice in California.)

Project objectives are to:

1. Evaluate the performance of three pelleted organic fertilizers, poultry litter, and fish emulsion on rice yields, plant and soil nitrogen (N) dynamics and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE);
2. Evaluate these materials as pre-plant and top-dress fertilizers;
3. Evaluate the potential of each fertilizer based on its availability and cost.

Our goal is to find a fertilizer that is efficacious in delivering required N, economically viable, easy to acquire and apply, and uniform in size and composition.

A final report describing the results of this project is expected in February 2010.