California Central Coast Water Quality Monitoring

Watershed-level assessment of surface water quality dynamics and in-stream processes in a context of changing water policies in the Central Coast of California comprise a significant portion of the lab's research efforts.

Cover Crops and Nitrogen Leaching

Studies of fertility management and nutrient cycling (emphasis on organic systems), and the use of nutrient budgets and simulation models as management tools and predictors of nutrient losses are an important part of the work of the lab.

Rice Production in West Africa

Research is ongoing in collaboration with the Africa Rice Center (WARDA) on methods that can be used to improve irrigated rice productivity while reducing external inputs (mainly pesticides) in West Africa.

Conservation Biological Control

Research on the Central Coast of California examines the potential of hedgerows planted in field margins to improve biological control services in vegetable agroecosystems and the socio-political incentives and disincentives for incorporating natural habitat in farms.

Biodiversity and Soil Organic Carbon in Mongolian Rangelands

Agroforestry, Soil Quality, and Livelihoods in Southern Malawi

In Malawi we are concluding an interdisciplinary project examining the impacts of agroforestry-based organic matter technologies (legume intercrops) on livelihoods of small farmers and sustainability of maize production systems over multiple time-scales.