New research projects announced

The Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) met with their research committee in July and pared down research proposals to nine new ones.

Two of the nine projects focus on nitrogen rate efficiencies and recommendations; two focus on phosphorus losses and one of the projects will concentrate on cover crops. The remaining research projects look at soils, MAP and DAP and watershed impacts. The new projects represent a total of $1.247 million in funding commitments.

According to Scott Lagger, Chair of the Research Committee for NREC, “With more funds available this year, NREC was able to fund additional projects that fulfill our mission of research and education around fertilizer use efficiency, nutrient loss prevention, and the maximization of grower economic returns. For 2026, NREC funded projects include new and renewed projects from the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, and Purdue University.”    

Among the new projects is a study of enhancing nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur management in winter wheat-soybean double crop rotation across regions of Illinois. Ultimately, the results will provide updated nitrogen fertilization guidance for Illinois farmers. Another project will assess the interaction of sulfur and nitrogen on corn yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Field trials will be conducted at up to eight sites over three years of the project.

One project will examine phosphorus stored in sediments and how it contributes to non-point source export of phosphorus. Field sampling will come from sediment in rivers, lakes and floodplains from nine Illinois watersheds. Another project evaluates the potential of nitrification inhibitors and cover crops to mitigate nutrient losses.

In total, NREC has 32 active multi-year projects totaling $5,106,278.