Commercial and subsistence farmers in Guam interested in gaining a better understanding of soil health and its impact on crop productivity are open to join a free two-hour Soil Field Day with UOG Land Grant’s soil scientist, Dr. Christianah Oladoye.

The workshop will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, at UOG’s Yigo Research & Education Center.

Registration is free but limited to the first 30 registrants. Those interested can sign up at https://url.uog.edu/H6HwKW.

The Soil Lab under UOG Land Grant’s Innovation Research Center has recently conducted trials on the impact of three methods of soil conservation and improving soil health. They include the addition of biochar and compost to the soil and growing sunn hemp as a cover crop in between cash crop plantings.

Oladoye will go over each of these methods and the results her lab found in the field trials. Sunn hemp will be a main highlight of the workshop, with sunn hemp crops currently ready to be reincorporated into the soil to improve soil health on UOG’s Yigo and Ija agricultural research stations. Sunn hemp is a fast-growing crop that can reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.

It is beneficial for building and conserving the soil, fixing nitrogen, and suppressing weeds.

For more information, please contact Dr. Christianah Oladoye at (671) 735-2134 or oladoyec@triton.uog.edu.