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Generations of farmers in the Rio Grande Valley traditionally have relied on irrigation water and nutrient-rich soil to yield choice crops favored by consumers. While ensuring a farmer’s livelihood and the area’s economy, the practice of over-fertilization has resulted in creating water runoff with high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrient concentrations along with elevated bacteria levels and low dissolved oxygen have impacted recreational use of the lower Arroyo Colorado.

As part of an AgriLife Extension Service program, educators stepped in and taught growers to effectively use and restrain the use of fertilizer, improving water quality and saving farmers $2 million in fertilizer costs. The program targeted producers in four counties, and taught area growers how to perform soil tests that help determine the right amount of nutrients necessary and achieve more consistent crop yields and crop quality–improving water quality in the process.

Attention focused on improving water quality in the lower Rio Grande Valley began in 2002, when it was determined that nutrients needed to be reduced by 90 percent to achieve healthy waters in the Arroyo Colorado Watershed. To date, the program has reduced the use of nitrogen by more than 2 million pounds and cut phosphorus use by 3 million pounds.

The project’s annual soil testing campaign has generated more than 3,000 samples representing 120,000 acres in the four-county area. Growers who put these principles into action have reduced fertilizer costs anywhere from $9.47 an acre to more than $27an acre.

By teaching best practices of soil testing, proper fertilizer application, and other conservation measures, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service benefits both the environment and the Valley’s agricultural industry–clearly motivating generations to come.