FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2001

Contact: Jeannette Warnert
(559) 241-7514
jwarnert@uckac.edu

San Joaquin Valley soil fertility and management short course

The University of California will hold a short course on San Joaquin Valley soil fertility and management Wednesday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the UC West Side Research and Extension Center near Five Points.

The course highlights recent research findings related to nutrient and salinity management in various common cropping systems in the San Joaquin Valley, placing an emphasis on fundamental chemical, biological and physical properties of valley soil. Practical applications and implications will also be covered.

"Growers and crop consultants in the Central San Joaquin Valley face many difficult questions related to crop fertility and soil management options," said Jeff Mitchell, UC vegetable crops specialist and short course organizer. "Issues related to salinity and drainage water availability further complicate soil resource management in this historically productive region of California."

• Titles of short course presentations are:
• Potassium nutrition in Central Valley soils
• Nitrogen fertility in San Joaquin Valley cotton
• Phosphorus nutrition and the phosphorous index
• Soil organic matter and organic amendments
• Drainage water reuse in San Joaquin Valley forage systems
• Precision agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley

Advance registration is not required. The $10 registration fee, payable at the door, includes lunch. Short course organizers have applied for four units of Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credit.

The West Side Research and Extension Center is at Oakland and Lassen avenues, about five miles south of Five Points. For more information contact Lita Santos at (559) 646-6506, lsantos@uckac.edu.