Soil & Water Quality

Soil Quality / Health Research

For more details and to order a soil quality field test kit, click the photo here.

If you have any questions or concerns about the kit please contact Dr. Rafiq Islam

FARMER-FRIENDLY TOOLS FOR PREDICTING SOIL ORGANIC MATTER (SOM)

We have developed an innovative, farmer-friendly tool for predicting soil organic matter (SOM) in sustainable, corn-based bioenergy feedstock systems. With the growing demand for crop residues in biofuel production and other industries, balancing residue removal with maintaining soil health has become a critical concern in the Midwest.

Addressing Soil Health Challenges

The removal of crop residue, while beneficial for biofuel production, negatively impacts the stability of SOM stock, which is essential for maintaining soil health and productivity. Recognizing this challenge, our SOM Calculator offers farmers, crop consultants, and bioenergy industries a practical solution for optimizing management practices and residue removal rates without compromising long-term soil health.

Features of the SOM Calculator

User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design with options to input:

Crop rotations.

Management practices (e.g., conservation tillage, drainage, manure application).

Residue removal rates per year.

Scientific Basis: Utilizes first-order decay functions to calculate annual changes in SOM for short- and long-term scenarios.

Enhanced Capabilities:

Predicts active and passive SOM fractions.

Estimates total active nitrogen and overall soil quality.

Calculates revenue generated from residue removal.

Provides percent change in SOM and the corresponding soil carbon sequestered or lost.

Regional Validation

To ensure accuracy and relevance, the calculator had been validated using long-term trial data from Ohio and Michigan, allowing for broader spatial applicability across the Midwest.

Empowering Farmers and the Industry

This tool empowers farmers and industry stakeholders by:

Supporting informed decisions about crop residue management.

Promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Enhancing soil health and carbon sequestration potential.

Download the SOM Calculator

Click the image below to learn more and download the SOM Calculator to start optimizing your residue management practices today.

BUCKEYE COMPOSITE: A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR NUTRIENT RETENTION AND ALGAL BLOOM PREVENTION

We are proud to introduce the Buckeye Composite, an innovative material designed to reduce edge-of-field phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) leaching while retaining excess P and N in the soil. This breakthrough ensures nutrient availability for crops without compromising agricultural productivity, supporting both sustainable farming and environmental health.

Proven Performance

Our field trials with the Buckeye Composite have delivered promising results:

Leachate Analysis: Fields treated with the Buckeye Composite exhibited significantly lower levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in leachate compared to untreated fields.

Soil Nutrient Retention: Treated soils retained higher amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen, ensuring that essential nutrients remain available for crops.

Corn Production: Application of the composite in corn fields showed no significant impact on crop yield, affirming its compatibility with agricultural production systems.

Environmental Benefits

By controlling the edge-of-field loss of phosphorus and nitrogen, the Buckeye Composite helps:

Reduce Algal Blooms: By minimizing nutrient runoff, it prevents excessive nutrient loading in water bodies, reducing the risk of algal bloom formation.

Mitigate Microcystin-LR Production: Algal blooms are a primary source of microcystin-LR, a harmful toxin. By controlling nutrient loss, the Buckeye Composite indirectly prevents the production of this toxin, contributing to public health and environmental safety.

This innovative solution is a step forward in addressing agricultural nutrient management challenges while protecting water quality and human health. The Buckeye Composite demonstrates the potential to enhance sustainable agriculture practices and prevent environmental hazards without sacrificing crop productivity.

Buckeye Balls: A Photocatalytic Solution for Degrading Microcystin-LR

We have developed an innovative photocatalytic composite, called Buckeye Balls, to address the critical issue of microcystin-LR contamination. Microcystin-LR, a harmful liver toxin produced by algae, is a significant concern in Lake Erie and other water bodies affected by algal blooms.

 

Key Features and Results

High Degradation Efficiency: Laboratory and prototype experiments demonstrated that Buckeye Balls can degrade up to 95% of microcystin-LR using natural sunlight, showcasing remarkable efficiency.

Experimental Validation:

Prototype experiments were conducted at our research centers, where algae were cultured to evaluate degradation performance.

Water samples collected from Lake Erie containing algae were treated with Buckeye Balls, yielding satisfactory results in degrading microcystin-LR.

Environmental and Health Impact

The application of Buckeye Balls offers numerous benefits:

Protecting Human Health: By effectively degrading microcystin-LR, Buckeye Balls help mitigate the risk of toxin exposure through contaminated drinking water or recreational activities.

Preserving Aquatic Life: Reducing toxin levels in water protects aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity, supporting healthy water bodies.

Future Applications

Our future plan includes scaling up the use of Buckeye Balls as floating materials in Lake Erie to target algal blooms and degrade microcystins directly in the water. This large-scale deployment will provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution for improving water quality, ensuring safer drinking water, and protecting aquatic ecosystems.

The development of Buckeye Balls demonstrates our commitment to leveraging innovative technologies to solve pressing environmental challenges and promote sustainable water management.