Research from a University of Illinois assistant professor hopes to better understand nitrogen loss measurement and reduction strategies on farms.  Mechanisms to reduce drainage and nutrient loss and pollution have existed for a long time, but new technologies are streamlining the process and producing new discoveries.

Dr. Giovani Preza Fontes, an assistant professor in the Department of Crop Sciences, is leading the project.  He says four different treatments are used to test for differences from certain product applications.

The research was presented at this year’s Dudley Smith Farm Field Day on Wednesday, June 17.  Attendees this year were able to tour parts of the farm to see where exactly the research is happening.  They saw the technology used to measure the nutrient losses. 

Preza Fontes hopes the research will lead to practical insights on best practices to conserve key nutrients for effective crop growth

More information on the Dudley Smith Farm Field Day and the University of Illinois Extension more broadly is available at extension.illinois.edu.

Dr. Giovani Preza Fontes appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show as part of our live coverage of the 2026 Dudley Smith Farm Field Day.