UF IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences

Way to go, Dave Hébert and Nassau County Extension!
This is a great example of how a combination of cover crops, compost/mulch, and pollinator habitat can improve soil health, reduce weeds, and support good bugs. These strategies can be adapted to gardens and farms of many sizes—and investing in healthy soil now provides benefits for years!

Growing Soil, Suppressing Weeds, and Supporting Pollinators at The Nassau County Demonstration Garden - UF/IFAS Extension Nassau County Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 Healthy soil is the foundation of successful gardening and farming. At the UF/IFAS Extension Nassau County office in Callahan, a demonstration garden has spent the last four years showing how cover crops, compost, mulch, and pollinator...

Crimson (clover) and cotton

UF IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences researchers are evaluating cereal rye and crimson clover as winter crops that can do more than protect soil. Early results suggest they may provide hay income, improve nutrient cycling, support soil health, and help set up the next cotton crop for success.

The study is also looking at brassica cover crops (like radish and turnips) and long-term impacts on repeated cotton production in Florida.

Florida cotton growers interested in testing crimson clover or cereal rye on their farms are encouraged to reach out about becoming an on-farm demonstration site.

Read more: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/jacksonco/2026/07/31/consider-winter-cover-crops-for-hay-before-planting-cotton-next-year

What can fish trawls tell us about seagrass recovery? 🐟🌿

Through the project, researchers are studying how boat propeller scars impact seagrass meadows across Florida’s Nature Coast.

Along with drone mapping and habitat surveys, researchers use benthic fish trawls (like the one pictured) to understand how the density of propeller scars within a given area affects where fish and other marine life are found throughout the seagrass meadow.

When boating this season, stay in marked channels, trim up in shallow water, and help keep Florida’s seagrass healthy. 🛥🌱

This work is funded by the NOAA RESTORE Science Program in collaboration with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, UF IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, and UF IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences SFFGS. For more see: https://bit.ly/scarmaps-summary (link in bio)

Today is !

Conservation starts from the ground up. Healthy soils, clean water, and resilient ecosystems are all connected—and protecting these natural resources isthe work we do every day in the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences.

Through research, Extension, and education, we're helping develop science-based solutions that improve water quality, enhance soil health, and build more sustainable communities for future generations.

Every action counts. Together, we can conserve the resources that sustain us all.

Learn more about our department: https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/ 💙💚🤎

Happy🌍 World Emoji Day!🎉

Can You Guess These Ecosystem Processes?

1. 🌧️💧🟤⬇️
2. 🍂🪱🍄🟤
3. 🌳💧🌊
4. 🌊🌱🐟🦀🐢
5. ☀️🌊🌱🫧🐟
6. 💧🌾🦆🐸
7. 🌧️➡️🌾➡️💧✨🌊
8. 🌧️🟤➡️💧❌
9. 🌱🟤💧➡️🌊
10. 🌎♻️🌱

Answers below!
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻
How many did you get?
Which one was the trickiest?
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻

1. Water infiltration (rain soaking into soil)
2. Decomposition & nutrient cycling (building healthy soil)
3. Healthy watersheds (forests protect water resources)
4. Seagrass habitat supports marine life
5. Aquatic plants produce oxygen that supports fish
6. Healthy wetlands provide wildlife habitat
7. Wetlands naturally filter water before it reaches rivers or coasts
8. Sediment runoff degrades water quality
9. Healthy soils protect downstream waters
10. Healthy ecosystems sustain our planet

Did we miss any??

Healthy trees start with healthy soils, but UF IFAS NFREC - Suwannee Valley experts say the work begins long before the first tree is planted.

Unlike annual crops, orchard and perennial systems offer limited opportunities to improve the root zone after establishment. From soil preparation to building organic matter and improving water-holding capacity, early management decisions can have lasting impacts on productivity and sustainability.

Learn how thoughtful soil health practices can benefit orchards for years to come.

🔗 https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/nfrecsv/2026/07/14/soil-health-in-orchard-and-perennial-systems/

Cover crops are often credited for improving soil health, reducing nutrient losses, and supporting sustainable agriculture. But the benefits and limitations are more complex.

A new editorial from UF IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Associate Professor Gabriel Maltais-Landry and colleague Chiara De Notaris of the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, explores why cover crops don't always produce the same results. Understanding the interactions among soils, climate, and management is essential for realizing their full potential.

The article highlights emerging questions about nutrient cycling, trade-offs, and the future of resilient agricultural systems.

Read the full editorial to discover why there may never be a one-size-fits-all approach to cover crops:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10705-026-10511-2

Great work, Giuliana!