Globally, the vadose zone is estimated to store 605-1814 million tons of nitrogen as nitrate. Eliminating or reusing nitrate stored in the vadose zone is critical to protecting groundwater quality and a sustainable agroecosystem. 

The University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Adaptive Cropping System Lab (ACSL) are collaborating to collect real-time agroecosystem data to support and develop next-generation cropping system models. 

Integrate experimental and modeling approaches to understand nanoscale hydrogeochemical transformations in the root-pore water-soil system affecting carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the rhizosphere.