Research from a University of Illinois assistant professor hopes to spearhead innovations in water recycling on farms.  The volatility of weather conditions in central Illinois is what inspired the research.  Droughts can wreak havoc on plants, while heavy rains may provide more water than what is ideal.  Part of the research is understanding how excess water runs off through the soil, while another goal is to determine the best methods of recycling water. 

Dr. Luciano Alves de Oliveira of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering is leading the project.  He says plants can lose essential nutrients based on how water runs through the soil.

As for one way to conserve the water, Oliveira proposes taking advantage of the surrounding land composition, including ponds and wetlands. 

For farms without those options currently available, the study looks to uncover other possibilities such as constructing new wetlands.

More information is available at extension.illinois.edu.

Dr. Luciano Alves de Oliveira appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show as part of our coverage of the Dudley Smith Farm Winter Meeting.