Columbus is moving toward greater sustainability, and CFAES students Harrison Morgenstern and Alexandra Kueller (pictured, left and right), who are both enrolled in the Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability (EEDS) program, are helping with the effort this summer. Read the story …
Highlights of this year’s Manure Science Review Aug. 6 include a new device called a subsurfer (the red machine shown here), which injects yield-improving poultry litter (a mix of manure, old bedding, etc.) below the ground. Benefits? Less risk of nutrient runoff, cleaner water. Related post on the event here. (Photo: USDA-ARS.)
NOAA yesterday predicted significant harmful algal blooms this summer in western Lake Erie (shown here during 2011’s massive bloom, the lake’s biggest ever). Meanwhile, faculty in our college are continuing to work with Ohio’s farmers to develop and use ways to limit farm nutrient runoff (while still getting good yields), especially soluble phosphorus, which can help feed the blooms. Details. (Photo: MERIS/NASA; processed by NOAA/NOS/NCCOS).
CFAES scientist Mary Gardiner has received a $900,000 National Science Foundation grant to study the best ways to manage vacant land for people, biodiversity, ecosystem services (such as soaking up stormwater), and tax-dollar effectiveness. Her work, which she’s doing in Cleveland, could have implications for greenspace design and city budgets, urban farming and insect pollinators, and simply how nice a neighborhood is to live in. Cleveland has about 32,000 acres of vacant land, and about 1,000 more old houses are torn down every year. Read the story.