Soil Health – Land-Grant Impacts

Monitoring climate change to reduce emissions and waste

Land-grant universities are working to provide critical data, tools and strategies to help predict, monitor and mitigate climate change and its impacts on communities and natural resources. Here are a few examples of that work: Dairy waste is a major source of methane and nitrous oxide emissions, which contribute to global warming. Scientists in Washington showed that vermifiltration (which uses filters [...]

Environmental Stewardship, Summary 1890, 1994, 2024, Animal Management/Performance/Welfare, Breeding/Genomics, Climate Resiliency, Ecosystem Services, Emergency/Disaster Preparedness/Management/Recovery, New Mexico, New Mexico State University, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Research, Soil Health, Tennessee, Tennessee State University, The Pennsylvania State University, Washington, Washington State University, Waste Management, Western

Creating new, sustainable products from agricultural waste and biomass

Petroleum and other nonrenewable materials are commonly used for plastics, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other products we use on a daily basis. But many of these products can be made from biomass, including food and agricultural wastes. Bioproducts offer a way to improve energy security, food security and national security while also cutting back on fossil fuel-related pollution [...]

Energy and Bioproducts, Summary 1890, 2024, Alabama, Animal Management/Performance/Welfare, Arkansas, Auburn University, Biofuels/Bioproducts, Breeding/Genomics, California, Clemson University, Climate Resiliency, Fisheries/Aquaculture, Forestry, Human Nutrition, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State University, Minnesota, North Central, Northeast, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Research, Soil Health, South Carolina, South Dakota, South Dakota State University, Southern, Texas, Texas A&M University, The Ohio State University, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of California, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Kentucky, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington, Washington State University, Waste Management, Western, Wisconsin

Soilless solutions for resource-efficient crop production

Over the past several decades, growing plants and crops in containers instead of in the field has revolutionized global horticultural production practices. These soilless culture practices introduce new opportunities to produce crops in individual containers, offering growers complete control and increased resource-use efficiency. This shift means food can be produced near urban areas, mitigating food deserts and improving production [...]

Environmental Stewardship, Story 2024, Crop Management, Louisiana, Louisiana State University, Profitability/Competitiveness, Research, Soil Health, Southern

Critical moments to improve Chesapeake water quality

A study by Pennsylvania State University researchers concluded that the vast majority of nutrients and sediment washed into streams flowing into the Chesapeake Bay are picked up by deluges from severe storms that occur on relatively few days of the year. The researchers say this offers clues for cleaning up the impaired estuary. A small percentage of locations and events [...]

Environmental Stewardship, Story 2024, Climate Resiliency, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Research, Soil Health, The Pennsylvania State University, Water Quality

a rainbow shines through sprinkler mist on a field

Protecting our water

Water continues to be one of the most critical challenges facing agriculture and communities. Land-grant universities are working to discover new ways to increase water efficiency, reduce water use and protect water quality. Here are a few examples of that work: Researchers in Ohio are working to improve soil health and water quality through best agricultural management practices to prevent non-point-source [...]

Environmental Stewardship, Summary 1890, 2024, Alabama, Alabama A&M University, Central State University, Climate Resiliency, Community Development/Engagement, Connecticut, Crop Management, Extension, Kansas, Kansas State University, Minnesota, North Central, Northeast, Ohio, Oregon, Oregon State University, Pennsylvania, Precision Agriculture, Research, Soil Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University of Connecticut, University of Minnesota, Waste Management, Water Availability, Water Quality, Western, Youth Development/4-H

Land-grant universities nationwide work together to sustainably manage nematodes

Nematodes are tiny, usually microscopic, roundworms that are incredibly common and widespread. They account for 80% of all individual animals on Earth. Some nematode species are beneficial to agriculture, while others have major detrimental impacts. Plant-parasitic nematodes can lead to poor soil and low crop yields. In the United States, annual economic losses due to nematode infection of crops [...]

Agricultural Systems, Story California, Connecticut, Cornell University, Florida, Hawaiʻi, Michigan, Michigan State University, New York, North Central, Northeast, Pest Management, Research, Soil Health, Southern, Tennessee, University of California, University of Connecticut, University of Florida, University of Hawaiʻi, University of Tennessee, Western

Healthy soils sustain food security

Researchers at the nation’s land-grant universities are studying the health of soils to increase agricultural production and decrease the use of agrochemicals used to grow food. Their work will contribute to our ability to meet the world’s growing demand for food. Here are a few examples of that work: Agricultural researchers in Pennsylvania are studying how soil salinity and soil nitrogen [...]

Agricultural Systems, Summary 2024, Climate Resiliency, Connecticut, Cornell University, Crop Management, Extension, Food Security, Georgia, New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New York, North Central, Northeast, Pennsylvania, Research, Soil Health, Southern, The Pennsylvania State University, The University of Georgia, University of Connecticut, University of Wisconsin, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Western, Wisconsin

Researching biochar as a soil additive to increase profits, yields

Researchers at the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Agricultural Research Station have found ways to solve two major challenges related to soil contamination and sub-optimal growth through the use of biochar – charcoal made from biomass. Biochar products can be used as a sustainable soil additive to capture agricultural chemicals. The product is added through conventional tillage and helps degrade [...]

Agricultural Systems, Story 1890, 2024, Arkansas, Biofuels/Bioproducts, Research, Soil Health, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Indiana farmers improve technical knowledge through revived Purdue on-farm visit program

After two years of COVID-19 procedures and protocol, Purdue Extension’s connections with Indiana farmers were limited as virtual experiences replaced in-person activities. In response, Purdue Extension developed “Purdue On The Farm” to re-connect and increase direct contact between Purdue Extension educators and Indiana farmers to build and enhance relationships, understand perception and practices and generate data to underpin recommendations. Purdue on [...]

Agricultural Systems, Story 2024, Crop Management, Extension, Indiana, North Central, Purdue University, Soil Health

Tag - Soil Health