Lower Rio Grande Land Management Practices for Uncultivated Agricultural Fields

Growers in southern NM are worried about leaving the land uncultivated due to the non-availability of water because of its consequences on soil health. This project addresses complex intertwined issues related to crop cultivation, soil health, groundwater depletion, and scarcity of surface water for irrigation. The project also addresses the challenges of managing soil health while keeping the land uncultivated. The research objective was to develop sustainable solutions for Lower Rio Grande producers and land managers to conserve groundwater while maintaining the health of uncultivated soil. Researchers created four plots and planted them to winter wheat, winter wheat, corn, and cover crops (three different mixtures of peas, oats, and canola) in year 2021-22. The fifth plot was kept bare. The crops in the plots seeded to corn, cover crops, and winter wheat (one of the plots) were harvested, and the biomass was left in the plot. These plots were left uncultivated, and no irrigation was provided to these plots. The soil samples were collected every 6 months to monitor changes in soil organic carbon, soil nitrogen, soil water retention, and water infiltration. Digital imaging was used to monitor weed infestation, identification of weeds, and biomass decomposition.