The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has posted state-by-state results of their Natural Resources Inventory (NRI). The report depicts wetland gains and losses, soil erosion, land cover and use for the 48 contiguous United States. These numbers look pretty encouraging. It will be interesting to see if they continue this way in 2004.

Researchers find that soil phosphorus levels may affect plant phytate levels as much as plant breeding. Not only is the phosphorus in low-phytate grain crops more digestible by people, but low-phytate grains free up minerals essential to human nutrition: zinc, manganese and iron.

Web site discusses science in support of using grassland to sequester atmospheric carbon.

The Carbon Coalition started out among growers in the Central West Catchment Management Authority's Farm Systems training program in New South Wales and is expanding to cover Australia and other parts of the globe. The Coalition is a not-for-profit organisation that runs like a business, with the express aim of securing a central role for soil carbon in the credit trading schemes emerging around Greenhouse Gas Emissions abatement. Co-convenors are the Kiely family, woolgrowers from Goolma, NSW.

Elton Robinson expands on variable rate application in Mississippi cotton

Improved flexible drain tile is making this unprecedented rate of installation possible. Wetland habitat loss and increasedsurface water nitrate levelsaretwo concerns.

Tallahassee sprayfield suspected of causing environmental problems 10 miles away in Wakulla Springs State Park. Report indicates relatively low (1.0 mg/l) nitrate-N needed to control eutrophication.

Passive capillary samplers have evolved into the vadose zone water flux meter.