Hyperspectral sensing and AI pave new path for monitoring soil carbon
URBANA, Ill. – Just how much carbon is in the soil? That’s a tough question to answer at large spatial scales, but understanding soil organic carbon at regional, national, or global scales could help scientists predict overall soil health, crop productivity, and even worldwide carbon cycles.
iSEE, NRES Seeking Levenick Resident Scholar for 2022-23
The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES), invites applications and nominations for the Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick Resident Scholar in Sustainability Leadership for the 2022-23 academic year at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
NRES professor named associate director for campus sustainability
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Associate Professor Jennifer Fraterrigo has been named Associate Director for Campus Sustainability in the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE).
Powerful sensors on planes detect crop nitrogen with high accuracy
URBANA, Ill. – Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers transformed agriculture as we know it during the Green Revolution, catapulting crop yields and food security to new heights. Yet, despite improvements in crop nitrogen use efficiency, fears of underperformance spur fertilizer overapplication to this day. Excess nitrogen then ends up in waterways, including groundwater, and in the atmosphere in the form of potent greenhouse gases.
Landowners: Learn forest management with U of I
URBANA, Ill. – Buying and maintaining forested land can be daunting if landowners don’t know how to manage it. Fortunately, a new University of Illinois outreach program is here to help.
Smith, NRES student, named 2021 Lincoln Academy Student Laureate
URBANA, Ill. – Alexa Smith, a senior in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has been awarded the 2021 Lincoln Academy Student Laureate award.
Building a better bat box: Temperature variation in rocket box designs
URBANA, Ill. – Bat box designs vary widely, but many commercial varieties remain untested and risk cooking the animals they’re designed to shelter. Often small and painted dark colors, these boxes may rise to dangerous temperatures on sunny days in summer, putting mom and pup in harm’s way.
Study clarifies nitrogen’s impact on soil carbon sequestration
URBANA, Ill. – Soil organic carbon is a cornerstone of soil health. It improves soil structure while enhancing water- and nutrient-holding capacity, key factors for any agricultural production system. To build it up, farmers incorporate crop residues into soils.
So why, despite decades of residue inputs, is soil organic carbon diminishing in corn production systems? Short answer: it’s the nitrogen.
Natural resources path attracts record number of world changers
URBANA, Ill. – This fall, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) is teaching and guiding its highest-ever number of undergraduates. Passion for preserving and restoring the environment helped drive the enrollment high.
Just ask Paola Garcia.
Brawn honored as inaugural Levenick Chair in Sustainability
URBANA, Ill. – In January 2020, professor Jeffrey Brawn was named the inaugural Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick Chair in Sustainability, the first endowed chair in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) at the University of Illinois. A pandemic-belated ceremony happened yesterday on the Urbana campus.