A recent statewide television news report highlighted our research and Extension program at the University of Arizona’s Yuma Agricultural Center, focusing on our efforts to improve water-use efficiency in Yuma’s high-value leafy-green production system. With ongoing drought conditions reducing flows in the Colorado River—our region’s primary irrigation source developing strategies to optimize water use has become an urgent priority for growers across Arizona.

The report featured our work evaluating a biostimulant, in combination with precision soil-moisture–sensor–guided irrigation and organic soil management, as an integrated approach to enhance crop performance under limited-water conditions. Organic production systems are particularly important in this context because they rely on soil health, biological activity, and non-synthetic inputs to sustain crop productivity. Improving water-use efficiency within organic systems not only supports environmental stewardship goals but also helps growers maintain yield stability under increasing resource constraints.

This research is strengthened through continuous collaboration with my colleagues at the Yuma Agricultural Center and the Yuma County Cooperative Extension. Their technical expertise, field support, and commitment to grower engagement are essential components of our program’s success, ensuring that research findings translate effectively into practical applications for the region’s vegetable industry.

Advancing Research Through Integrated Approaches
Our field trials are examining the effects of a biostimulant product known to support nutrient-use efficiency, root development, and overall plant resilience. While the biostimulant alone provides measurable physiological benefits, our findings show that the greatest improvements occur when it is combined with sensor-based irrigation scheduling and organic fertility practices. These practices form the foundation of organic production systems, where enhancing soil biological function and nutrient cycling is critical for maintaining crop vigor in the absence of synthetic fertilizers.

This integrated strategy has demonstrated strong potential to enhance water-use efficiency and maintain crop vigor under limited-water conditions. The resulting knowledge plays a vital role in supporting the long-term productivity and sustainability of Yuma’s leafy-green industry, which supplies approximately 90% of the nation’s winter lettuce.

Full Media Coverage
Full AZFamily story: https://www.azfamily.com/2025/12/02/university-arizona-researchers-test-new-ways-grow-lettuce-with-less-water/