Research Project: Water Management for Crop Production in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions and the Safe Use of Alternative Water Resources

Location: Agricultural Water Efficiency and Salinity Research Unit

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Second-year effects of biochar, biosolids, and greenwaste on tall fescue under deficit irrigation: Part II - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Barros Silva Filho, J., Montgomery, J., Anderson, R.G., McGiffen, Jr., M.E. 2026. Second-year effects of biochar, biosolids, and greenwaste on tall fescue under deficit irrigation: Part II. Agronomy. 16(13):1230. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16131230.

Biochar-eDNA interactions in wastewater treatment: Interplay between feedstock diversity and pyrolysis temperature - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Schmidt, M.P., Ashworth, D.J., Phan, D., Bhattacharjee, A.S., Ferreira, J.F., Ibekwe, A.M. 2026. Biochar-eDNA interactions in wastewater treatment: Interplay between feedstock diversity and pyrolysis temperature. Bioresource Technology. 35. Article 102903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102903.

Enhancing adsorption of short-chain PFAS in water using metal-modified biochar: Insights from Fe, Mn, and Zn - (Abstract Only)

Improvement of soil properties maps using an iterative residual correction method - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Xu, C., Scudiero, E., Anderson, R.G., Chaney, N.W. 2026. Improvement of soil properties maps using an iterative residual correction method. Soil. 12(1):665-687. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-665-2026.

Knowns and (mostly) unknowns of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) transfers within agricultural soil-plant systems: identifying fundamental research needs - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ashworth, D.J. 2026. Knowns and (mostly) unknowns of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) transfers within agricultural soil-plant systems: identifying fundamental research needs. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 60(9):6845-6847. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6c01658.

Robotic mapping of soil volumetric water content with geospatial soil apparent electrical conductivity in micro-irrigated citrus orchards in California - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Morbidini, F., Samanta, A., Maucieri, C., Karydis, K., Mauk, P.A., Skaggs, T.H., Scudiero, E. 2026. Robotic mapping of soil volumetric water content with geospatial soil apparent electrical conductivity in micro-irrigated citrus orchards in California. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 245:11540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2026.111540.

Leaching of PFOS and PFBS to groundwater at US Air Force bases: Could biochar offer an effective mitigation strategy? - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ashworth, D.J., Ramos, P., Schmidt, M.P., Ibekwe, A.M. 2026. Leaching of PFOS and PFBS to groundwater at US Air Force bases: Could biochar offer an effective mitigation strategy?. Environmental Science and Technology. 60(6):5053-5062. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c12996.

Evaluating surface fluxes in WRF using eddy-covariance flux measurements in the Western and Eastern U.S. - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wu, F., Davis, K., Anderson, R.G., Horne, J., Goslee, S.C., Munger, W., Cai, C., Cui, Y., Zhao, Z., Zhong, M. 2026. Evaluating surface fluxes in WRF using eddy-covariance flux measurements in the Western and Eastern U.S. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2026.111029.

Pilot study on the mitigation of PFAS bioavailability to plants using biochar as a soil amendment - (Abstract Only)
Hu, J., Li, Z., Schmidt, M.P., Ibekwe, A.M., Ashworth, D.J. 2026. Pilot study on the mitigation of PFAS bioavailability to plants using biochar as a soil amendment. Presented at the Northeast Waste Management Official's Association (NEWMOA), The Science of PFAS: Public Health and the Environment Conference, April 14-16, 2026, Worcester, MA

Biochar-based filtration of treated wastewater effectively removes trimethoprim but may introduce antimicrobial resistance determinants over time - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Phan, D., Bhattacharjee, A., Schmidt, M.P., Ibekwe, A.M., Skaggs, T.H., Ashworth, D.J. 2025. Biochar-based filtration of treated wastewater effectively removes trimethoprim but may introduce antimicrobial resistance determinants over time. Journal of Water Process Engineering. 81. Article 109262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.109262.

Impact of soil heterogeneity on evapotranspiration and irrigation modeling using POLARIS and SSURGO-based soil hydraulic properties - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dhungel, R., Anderson, R.G., French, A.N., Skaggs, T.H., Wang, G., Li, N., Scudiero, E. 2025. Impact of soil heterogeneity on evapotranspiration and irrigation modeling using POLARIS and SSURGO-based soil hydraulic properties. Agricultural Water Management. 319. Article 190806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109806.

Relative differences in salinity tolerance and genetic expression of salt-tolerant and sensitive varieties of commercially important solanaceae crops - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Anderson, R.G., Tannous, E., Sun, Y., Suarez, D.L., Ferreira, J.F., Sandhu, D. 2025. Relative differences in salinity tolerance and genetic expression of salt-tolerant and sensitive varieties of commercially important solanaceae crops. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 8(4) Article e70232. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70232.

Emerging issues and research opportunities in vadose zone processes - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Stewart, R.D., Flury, M., Ajami, H., Anderson, R.G., Green, T.R., Jin, Y., Patrignani, A., Shillito, R., Zhang, W., Abou Najm, M.R., Babaeian, E., Berli, M., Brookshire, E., Daigh, A.M., Giovando, J., Heinse, R., Heitman, J., Huang, J., Kelleners, T., Naseri, M., Ochsner, T.E., Radolinski, J.B., Sadeghi, M., Sasidharan, S., Shukla, M.K., Tuller, M., Wendroth, O., Wu, J., Wyatt, B.M., Yang, Y., Yu, Y., Zhang, F. 2025. Emerging issues and research opportunities in vadose zone processes. Vadose Zone Journal. 24(4). Article e70030. https://doi.org/10.1002/vzj2.70030.

Anaerobic digester installation significantly reduces liquid manure management CH4 emissions at a California dairy farm - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Rodriguez, M.V., Rojas Robles, N., Carranza, V., Thiruvenkatachari, R., Reyes, M., Preble, C., Pexton, J., Meyer, D., Anderson, R.G., Venkatram, A., Hopkins, F.M. 2025. Anaerobic digester installation significantly reduces liquid manure management CH4 emissions at a California dairy farm. Global Change Biology Bioenergy. 17:Article e70047. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.70047.

Advancing salinity and nutrient management for irrigation science - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kadyampakeni, D.M., Anderson, R.G., Schmidt, M.P. 2025. Advancing salinity and nutrient management for irrigation science. Irrigation Science. 43:321-327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-025-01023-y.

Hydrochemistry and quality of irrigation water in the middle reach of the Syr Darya River in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Normatov, I.S., Goncharuk, V.V., Borozova, N., Qurbonali, K., Bobokalonov, J.M., Anderson, R.G. 2025. Hydrochemistry and quality of irrigation water in the middle reach of the Syr Darya River in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan. Agricultural Water Management. 47:204-211. https://doi.org/10.3103/S1063455X25020079.

The role of soil organic matter quality and mineralogy controlling the highest mercury concentration of the Brazilian mangroves - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Silva, G.H.M.C., Araujo, P.R.M., Vieira, C.B., Araujo, J.K.S., de Souza Junior, V.S., dos Santos, J.C.B., Schmidt, M.P., Ying, S.C., Biondi, C.M. 2025. The role of soil organic matter quality and mineralogy controlling the highest mercury concentration of the Brazilian mangroves. Science of the Total Environment. 975. Article 179274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179274.

In-season estimation of Japanese squash using high-spatial-resolution time-series satellite imagery - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, N., Skaggs, T.H., Scudiero, E. 2025. In-season estimation of Japanese squash using high-spatial-resolution time-series satellite imagery. Sensors. 25(7). Article 1999. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25071999.

Apparent soil electrical conductivity and gamma-ray spectrometry to map particle size fraction in micro-irrigated citrus orchards in California - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Scudiero, E., Schmidt, M.P., Skaggs, T.H., Ferreira, J.F., Zaccaria, D., Pourreza, A., Corwin, D.L. 2025. Apparent soil electrical conductivity and gamma-ray spectrometry to map particle size fraction in micro-irrigated citrus orchards in California. Frontiers in Plant Science. 16. Article 1512598. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1512598.

Biochar-based filtration effectively removes trimethoprim from synthetic treated municipal wastewater but may introduce antibiotic resistance genes to agricultural soil via irrigation - (Abstract Only)
Phan, D., Bhattacharjee, A., Ibekwe, A.M., Schmidt, M.P., Skaggs, T.H., Ashworth, D.J. 2025. Biochar-based filtration effectively removes trimethoprim from synthetic treated municipal wastewater but may introduce antibiotic resistance genes to agricultural soil via irrigation. Presented ar the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Research and Education Conference, May 20-22, 2025, Durham, NC.

Feedstock selection influences performance and mechanism of DNA adsorption onto biochar - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Schmidt, M.P., Rupp, S., Ashworth, D.J., Phan, D., Bhattacharjee, A., Ferreira, J.F., Men, Y., Ibekwe, A.M. 2025. Feedstock selection influences performance and mechanism of DNA adsorption onto biochar. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring and Management. 23. Article 101040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2025.101040.

Challenges and limitations of applying the flux variance similarity (FVS) method to partition evapotranspiration in a montane cloud forest - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shih, C., Anderson, R.G., Skaggs, T.H., Juang, J., Chen, Y., Jang, Y., Gu, R., Huang, C., Lo, M. 2025. Challenges and limitations of applying the flux variance similarity (FVS) method to partition evapotranspiration in a montane cloud forest. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 362. Article 110391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110391.

Water use dynamics of almond and pistachio crops in the Mediterranean region amid climate change - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kandhway, A., Scarpare, F., Liu, M., Nelson, R., Adam, J.C., Anderson, R.G., Conklin, M.H., Safeeq, M. 2024. Water use dynamics of almond and pistachio crops in the Mediterranean region amid climate change. Agricultural Water Management. 307. Article 109219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2024.109219.

Intercomparison of citrus evapotranspiration among eddy covariance, OpenET ensemble models, and the water and energy balance model (BAITSSS) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dhungel, R., Anderson, R.G., French, A.N., Skaggs, T.H., Ajami, H., Wang, D. 2024. Intercomparison of citrus evapotranspiration among eddy covariance, OpenET ensemble models, and the water and energy balance model (BAITSSS). Agricultural Water Management. 304. Article 109066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2024.109066.

Relationships among soil moisture at various depths under diverse climate, land cover and soil textures - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, N., Skaggs, T.H., Ellegaard, P., Bernal, A., Scudiero, E. 2024. Relationships among soil moisture at various depths under diverse climate, land cover and soil textures. Science of the Total Environment. 947. Article 174583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174583.

Evaporation and transpiration from multiple proximal forests and wetlands - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shveytser, V., Stoy, P.C., Butterworth, B., Wiesner, S., Skaggs, T.H., Murphy, B., Wutzler, T., El-Madany, T.S., Desai, A.R. 2024. Evaporation and transpiration from multiple proximal forests and wetlands. Water Resources Research. 60(1). Article e2022WR033757. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR033757.

Phosphate and myo-Inositol hexakisphosphate adsorption onto hematite as affected by Ca2+, Mg2+, and pH - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Firmano, R.F., Peak, J.D., Schmidt, M.P., Alleoni, L.R. 2023. Phosphate and myo-Inositol hexakisphosphate adsorption onto hematite as affected by Ca2+, Mg2+, and pH. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry. 7(12):2420-2429. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsearthspacechem.3c00192.

The impact of an anaerobic digester on seasonal manure management CH4 emissions from a dairy farm in the San Joaquin Valley of California - (Abstract Only)
Preble, C., Rojas Robles, N.E., Thiruvenkatachari, R.R., Pexton, J., Anderson, R.G., Venkatram, A., Meyer, D., Hopkins, F.M. 2023. The impact of an anaerobic digester on seasonal manure management CH4 emissions from a dairy farm in the San Joaquin Valley of California. American Geophysical Union. N/A.

A modeling assessment of agricultural land groundwater recharge in the Kaweah River watershed, California. - (Abstract Only)
Ajami, H., Acero Triana, J.S., Yuan, Y., Armengol, S., Wineteer, E., Anderson, R.G., Kelley, J.R., Wang, D. 2023. A modeling assessment of agricultural land groundwater recharge in the Kaweah River watershed, California.. Soil and Water Conservation Society. N/A.

Early season irrigation detection and evapotranspiration modeling of winter vegetables based on Planet satellite using water and energy balance algorithm in lower Colorado basin - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dhungel, R., Anderson, R.G., French, A.N., Skaggs, T.H., Saber, M., Sanchez, C., Scudiero, E. 2023. Early season irrigation detection and evapotranspiration modeling of winter vegetables based on Planet satellite using water and energy balance algorithm in lower Colorado basin. Irrigation Science. 42(1):15-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-023-00874-7.

Assessment of crop water use and evaporation changes in a perennial orange orchard following a major thinning operation - (Abstract Only)
Anderson, R.G., Wang, D., Dhungel, R., Ajami, H., Skaggs, T.H. 2023. Assessment of crop water use and evaporation changes in a perennial orange orchard following a major thinning operation. Biological Engineering (ASABE). N/A.

Modeling of irrigation and related processes with HYDRUS - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lazarovitch, N., Kisekka, I., Oker, T.E., Brunetti, G., Wöhling, T., Xianyue, L., Yong, L., Skaggs, T.H., Furman, A., Sasidharan, S., Raij-Hoffman, I., Šimunek, J. 2023. Modeling of irrigation and related processes with HYDRUS. Advances in Agronomy. 181:79-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2023.05.002.

Using water for best product quality in fruit and nut trees and vines - (Other)
Anderson, R.G., Girona, J., Gucci, R. 2023. Using water for best product quality in fruit and nut trees and vines. Irrigation Science. 41(4), 449-452. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-023-00857-8.

Remote sensing-based energy balance for lettuce in an arid environment: Influence of management scenarios on irrigation and evapotranspiration modeling - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dhungel, R., Anderson, R.G., French, A.N., Skaggs, T.H., Saber, M., Sanchez, C.A., Scudiero, E. 2023. Remote sensing-based energy balance for lettuce in an arid environment: Influence of management scenarios on irrigation and evapotranspiration modeling. Irrigation Science. 41(2):197-214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-023-00848-9.

Impact of climate change and future water availability on soil salinity and almond production in the San Joaquin Valley, California - (Abstract Only)
Anderson, R.G., Helalia, S.A., Skaggs, T.H., Šimunek, J. 2022. Impact of climate change and future water availability on soil salinity and almond production in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Meeting Abstract. N/A.

Understanding ecohydrologic processes of irrigated agricultural ecosystems by integrating in-situ and modeling approaches - (Abstract Only)
Ajami, H., Triana, J.S., Yuan, Y., Anderson, R.G., Wang, D., Kelley, J.R. 2022. Understanding ecohydrologic processes of irrigated agricultural ecosystems by integrating in-situ and modeling approaches. Meeting Abstract. N/A.

Quantifying citrus water use efficiency by evapotranspiration partitioning using in-situ measurements - (Abstract Only)
Yuan, Y., Ajami, H., Anderson, R.G., Wang, D., Kelley, J.R., Wang, L. 2022. Quantifying citrus water use efficiency by evapotranspiration partitioning using in-situ measurements. Meeting Abstract. N/A.