Active Areas of Research
Ohio State soil faculty conduct research that address critical environmental and agricultural issues in the state, region and beyond. Our research focues on:
Soil carbon management
Environmental soil physics
- Environmental chemistry of organic and inorganic pollutants in contaminated soils with emphasis on human (e.g., public health), agronomic (e.g., crop, animal),
and ecological bioavailability, contaminant fate and transport, and human health and ecological risk assessment - Development and evaluation of new technologies used for in situ remediation of contaminated soils (e.g., soil amendments)
- Development of innovative in vitro laboratory methods to predict (1) contaminant and nutrient bioavailability and (2) the ability of remediation methods
to reduce contaminant bioavailability and human and ecological exposure
Digital soil mapping
Soil microbiology
Soil fertility and nutrient management
Work focuses on determining timely and efficient use of fertilizers, developing farmer-friendly soil health tests, and understanding how long-term management strategies can build organic matter and soil productivity.
Sustainable agriculture
Soil carbon formation and interaction with soil mineralogy
- Development and evaluation of new technologies used for in situ remediation of contaminated soils (e.g., soil amendments)
- Beneficial use of agricultural, industrial, and municipal by-products through land application; soil and environmental chemistries
of by-products in agronomic/environmental systems with emphasis on their risk and environmental impact
Agricultural Research Stations
Agricultural research is conducted at a variety of outlying research stations across the state. Each of these sites has a dedicated field crew to facilitate all field operations.