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Explore Soil Health Research and Outreach at The Ohio State University

Nov. 12, 2024
Dr. Rakkar discusses soil health.

During Ohio Soil Health Week, organized by Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) and the Ohio Soil Health Initiative, take time to explore some of the current soil health research and outreach in the School of Environment and Natural Resources. 

Explore Soil Health Research and Outreach at The Ohio State University.

OEFFA Soil Stories

Jim Ippolito, professor, Rattan Lal Endowed Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility
His 30+ year career has focused on improving environmental soil fertility/chemistry/microbiology/soil health within agricultural, shortgrass steppe, grazed, burned, and metal-contaminated mined-land ecosystems. His research program connects the intimate linkages between soil macro- and micro-nutrients, trace and heavy metals, microbiological activity, and soil physical attributes, and how these factors combine to influence ecosystem sustainability, resiliency, food, climate, and environmental security. In this short video, Jim shares about his relationship with the soil to celebrate the first Ohio Soil Health Week from November 10-16, 2024. Learn more at https://ohiosoilhealthweek.com. Music by Milo Petruziello. Editing by John Umland.

 


Soil Health Research playlist:

 

 

 

Watch the playlist to discover ...

  • Soil Health Research at The Ohio State University with Xucheng Hu, master’s student in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, who is conducting research at Grace Drake Agriculture Laboratory to quantify the soil health condition across several land use types. Xucheng is advised by Jim Ippolito, professor, Rattan Lal Endowed Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility. 
  • Soil Health Research at The Ohio State University with Oliver Hoffman, master’s student in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, who takes us to southern Minnesota to explore the regional variability of soils and research underway to compare soils enrolled in the conservation reserve program with agricultural fields under different management practices. This work will help to identify regionally specific practices to improve soil health. Oliver is advised by Jim Ippolito, professor, Rattan Lal Endowed Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility. Oliver would like to thank Nathan Carr, Co-Program Administrator for the Faribault County SWCD for making the project possible and James Pieper, a producer in the county who aided in creating this video.  
  • Soil Health Research at The Ohio State University with Manbir Rakkar, assistant professor of soil fertility and nutrient management in the School of Environment and Natural Resources discusses the role of soil health in nutrient management and ongoing soil health research and extension activities in her lab.  
  • Soil Health Research at The Ohio State University with Jaspreet Singh, master’s student in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, who is studying phosphorus stratification and distribution across land use and agronomic settings. His research will refine P fertilizer recommendations for crops and could reduce P loads going into the water bodies. Jaspreet is advised by Manbir Rakkar, assistant professor of soil fertility and nutrient management.  
  • Soil Heath Research at The Ohio State University with Aline de Camargo Santos, postdoctoral scholar in the School of Environment and Natural Resources. Come along and discover the significance of long-term research examining the effects of crop rotation and no-tillage on crop yields and soil health at the Triplett-Van Doren No Tillage Experimental Plots established in 1962. 
  • Soil Health Research at The Ohio State University with Louceline Fleuridor, postdoctoral scholar in the School of Environment and Natural Resources explores the legacy effects of management on soil biological health on working farms. This work will help to further our understanding of the effects of manure addition and perennial rotation on soil health. 

Have a soil health question? Soil health experts at The Ohio State University will address your question(s).

Ask a soil health question


Resources

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) has recently published a consensus document "Exploring Linkages between Soil Health and Human Health." School of Environment and Natural Resources Professor Nick Basta, was one of 14 professors on the committee of the National Academies that reviewed the state of knowledge on linkages between soil health and human health and explored the potential benefits of soils’ microbial resources to human health.  To explore their findings, the report can be downloaded free at  https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/exploring-linkages-between-soil-health-and-human-health


Breakfast program to celebrate healthy soils

Attend the Environmental Professionals Network for their breakfast program on Nov. 13, Celebrating healthy soils for environmental and human health

Read about the breakfast program here.