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Sone et al. (2026), Journal of Applied Ecology

Published: September 17, 2026

Geography: Pullman, Washington / Palouse; University of Idaho-led research

Practice: Cover crops, crop diversity, soil microbiology, reduced disturbance

Researchers compared six individual cover crops, functional-group mixtures, and a six-species mixture, then measured soil properties, microbial communities, ecosystem multifunctionality, and the yield of subsequent winter wheat. The experiment was conducted in Pullman, Washington, under dryland conditions relevant to northern Idaho and eastern Washington.

Link

Tarkalson et al. (2026), Journal of Agriculture and Food Research

Published: August 6, 2026

Geography: Idaho, irrigated semiarid cropping system

Practice: Manure, nutrient management, soil microbiome, reduced synthetic fertilizer

This USDA-ARS/Idaho-focused study compared dairy manure, dairy compost and synthetic fertilizer treatments. Researchers measured crop biomass, soil biochemical properties, bacterial communities, enzyme activity and permanganate-oxidizable carbon.

Link

Akter, Kayler & Arfania (2026), Plant and Soil

Published: September 10, 2026

Geography: University of Idaho research; semiarid calcareous system

Practice: Intercropping/crop diversity, deficit irrigation, nutrient-use efficiency

Researchers investigated barley-legume systems under contrasting irrigation regimes, looking specifically at phosphorus movement through the soil profile and grain phosphorus recovery.

Walker (2026), University of Idaho M.S. thesis

Published: August 2026

Geography: Aberdeen, Idaho

Practice: Deficit irrigation, water-use efficiency

A two-year University of Idaho study compared Clearwater Russet, Teton Russet, Russet Burbank and breeding line A12305-2adg under irrigation treatments supplying 50%, 75%, 100% and 125% of evapotranspiration, beginning 60 days after planting.