Title: Informing Water and Nutrient Management for Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract:

Effective management of water and nutrient resources remains a central challenge for sustainable agricultural production. Agronomic decisions and how they impact crop yields and other relevant outcomes, such as consumptive water use, are highly field specific. Variability over space and time for both meteorological and management factors also makes it difficult to identify how specific agricultural practices, often funded through grant programs, impact outcomes of interest. The research in this dissertation investigates how high-resolution satellite data products, combined with field-level agronomic analyses, can guide the implementation of agricultural management programs, strategies, and technologies.

Despite substantial and continued investments into agri-environmental programs, systematic evaluation remains limited, making it essential to quantify their effectiveness and ensure that expected outcomes are being achieved. High-resolution spatial analysis across large regions can also identify where technologies, agri-environmental practices, or subsidy programs are likely to be the most effective and have the greatest potential. This research proposes several frameworks that facilitate informed decision-making at multiple scales, identify opportunities for targeted improvement, and guide future research efforts that support sustainable agricultural management.