The Sequestration: Lal Carbon Center Newsletter Autumn 2024

Primary tabs

1. Top Stories

  1. A Warm Welcome to Punjab Agricultural University!

    (Left to right) Dr. Manav Indra Singh Gill, Dr. Rattan Lal, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal, Dr. Kaya Şahin,Dr. Vishal Bector, Dr. Amy McCulla, Dr. Manjeet Singh Makkar, Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Dr. Rita Koryan, and Dr. Luis Cañas. Photo by Victor van Buchem, The Ohio State University

    By Maggie Willis

    The Ohio State University was thrilled to welcome a delegation from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) for the first time since the turn of the century. The guests from PAU included Vice

  2. Seminar by Vice Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal of Punjab Agricultural University

    Vice Chancellor Satbir Gosal gives a seminar in Kottman Hall. Photo by Duane Gandelot, The Ohio State Univeristy

    During his visit to Ohio State, esteemed Vice Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal presented a seminar titled “Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana: Exploring the Transformative Role of Teaching, Research, and Extension Activities.” Held in Kottman Hall 333, this engaging seminar attracted an

  3. The Lal Carbon Center and C-FARM at the 2024 Farm Science Review

    Research Technician Alex Jones demonstrates the soil health guessing game to visitors at the Farm Science Review. Photo by Maggie Willis

    By Maggie Willis

    The Lal Carbon Center joined Ohio State Extension’s Agronomic Crops team at the Farm Science Review for the second year in a row, hosted by CFAES in London, Ohio. Over September 17th, 18th, and 19th, our researchers, visiting fellows, research technicians, and graduate

  4. Dr. Ippolito Helps Lead Soil Health Survey at Ohio State’s Grace Drake Farm

    Crew preparing for soil sampling in a continuous corn field. All photos courtesy Jim Ippolito

    By Jim Ippolito

    In April 2024, Jim Ippolito, Rattan Lal Endowed Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility, and his colleagues Drs. Manbir Rakkar, Doug Jackson-Smith, Steve Lyon, Kevin Armstrong, Ryan Haden, and Xucheng Hu, began research to quantify soil health at the Ohio State Grace

2. In Memoriam

  1. Shri Ratan Naval Tata

    Associate Dean Dave Hansen, Vice President and Dean Bobby Moser, Dr. Ratan Naval Tata, and Dr. Rattan Lal in 2001 at The Ohio State University Photo courtesy Rattan Lal

    On October 9th, the world lost an innovative industrial and philanthropic giant when Shri Ratan Naval Tata passed away at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy valued at over $100 billion.

    Trained as an architect at Cornell University, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1962 and

3. Quarterly Viewpoint

  1. From the Desk of Visiting Scholar Dr. Noor-Us-Sabah

    Portrait of Dr. Noor-Us-Sabah

    Pollution has transboundry effects and so does carbon. Once carbon enters the atmospheric pool, one cannot differentiate between the carbon generated from any source, country, or region.  Nowadays, carbon emissions are one of the major threats to food security and sustainability.

4. Center Updates

  1. C-FARM: USDA-ARS

    A number of different farms with varying degrees of conservation management were sampled this past winter in the Coastal Plain and Flatwoods regions of the southeastern US.  Root-zone enrichment of soil organic carbon and nitrogen are being calculated for these and other sampling sites in the region. Figure courtesy Alan Franzluebbers
    C-FARM Update from the Southern US

    By Alan Franzluebbers, USDA-ARS, Raleigh, NC 

    A total of 73 farms in the Southern Coastal Plain and Atlantic Flatwoods Major Land Resource Areas were sampled during the winter of 2023/24.  Depth distribution of soil organic C and N,

  2. C-FARM: Midwest

    Crop of soybean under no-tillage practice in Delaware county. Photo by Yadunath Bajgai

    By Yadunath Bajgai

    Soil sampling tasks for C-FARM project in 2024 continued until early July. Apart from a few sites in Pickaway and Wyandot counties, most of the sampling this year were done in Delaware and Coshocton counties. The soil series covered are Blount, Warsaw, Pewamo, Eldean,

  3. C-FARM: Graduate Research - Munna

    Figure: Measuring Soil Water Flow Using the Constant Head Apparatus in the Soil Physics Lab. Photo courtesy M.N.H. Munna
    Understanding Soil Health through the Constant Head Method at the Lal Carbon Center

    By Md. Nayem Hasan Munna

    As autumn arrives and Ohio’s landscape begins to shift into fall colors, the Soil Physics lab at the Lal Carbon Center is bustling with activity. Recently, I

  4. C-FARM: Graduate Research - Multer Hopkins

    Experimental plots at Waterman Farms. Photo courtesy Brittany Multer Hopkins

    Environmental Impacts of Concrete Weathering in Soil

    By Brittany Multer Hopkins

    C-FARM Graduate Student Brittany Multer Hopkins is studying the carbon capture potential and environmental impacts of concrete weathering in soil. Sampling continues at her plots at

  5. C-FARM: Microsoft

    Image of a smartphone held above soil to take a picture. Photo courtesy Nancy Loria.
    Assessing Soil Organic Carbon: Can Your Smartphone Do the Job?

    By Nancy Loria

    The importance of soil organic carbon (SOC) in climate change mitigation and sustainable agriculture has gained significant attention due to its critical role in sequestering atmospheric

  6. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Update

    To research the development and evaluation of pathways to net-zero emission agriculture and cropping systems

    By Sandhya Karki

    Soil management practices that enhance soil health are increasingly recognized as crucial strategies for mitigating climate change. Applying

  7. World Food Day 2024

    By Maggie Willis

    In observance of the FAO’s World Food Day on October 16th, the Lal Carbon Center held a potluck on Friday, October 18th, in Kottman Hall. The spread featured dishes from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, and the US, with flavors that, in my opinion, surpassed

  8. The Lal Carbon Center at Canaan Middle School

    By Maggie Willis

    The Lal Carbon Center was honored to present at Boy’s Exploration Day at Jonathan Alder Canaan Middle School in Plain City, Ohio, on October 21, 2024. This event aims to provide 5th and 6th grade boys with a school day filled with new experiences focused on STEAM,

  9. Congratulations, Brittany!

    Congratulations to Brittany Multer Hopkins, who passed her candidacy exam on October 9th. Brittany’s work focuses on the potential of concrete weathering in soil to capture carbon and the subsequent environmental impacts.

  10. C-FARM Researchers Recognized Among Top 2% of Scientists

    A hearty congratulations is due to Dr. Rattan Lal and Dr. Alan Franzluebbers, both recognized among the ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists” by Stanford University/Elsevier. These rankings use standardised data on citations, h-index, and other bibliometric indicators to identify the world’s leading

  11. Dr. Rattan Lal Inducted as Honorary Member of the International Union of Soil Scientists (IUSS)

    IUSS President Dr. Edoardo A.C. Constantini released a declaration on the 28th of October 2024 that as a “recognition of [his] exceptional contributions and unwavering support for our mission,” and the fact that Dr. Lal’s “dedication and influence [has] left a significant impact on [the IUSS]

5. Near & Far

  1. Midwestern Legislative Conference (MLC)

    Members of the Manitoba delegation at the MLC (from left to right): Member of the Legislative Assembly Rachelle Schott, MLA Jeff Bereza, Rattan Lal, MLA Obby Khan, MLA Diljeet Brar, Navneet Brar. Photo by Matt Shadle, Digital Media Manager for the Ohio Senate
    July 21, 2024 • Columbus, Ohio

    The Midwest Legislative Conference brings together legislators and their staff from eleven Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces to improve state government by fostering the exchange of information, sharing ideas, and discussing common

  2. Rio-Agro

    NRCS Chief Terry Crosby and Dr. Rattan Lal at Rio-Agro 2024 Photo courtesy Terry Crosby.

    July 30th, 2024 • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    The International Forum for Sustainable Agro-Environmental Development

    Dr. Lal was honored to be invited to speak at Rio Agro 2024. On the second day of Rio-Agro on July 30th, 2024, Dr. Lal gave a lecture

  3. Aapresid Congress

    August 7th, 2024 • Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Dr. Rattan Lal was pleased to join the gathering of influential national and international leaders in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the 2024 Aapresid Congress for a lively collaboration between the scientific and agricultural production

  4. 2024 United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week

    September 23rd, 2024 • New York, New York

    At the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week, the Business Council for International Understanding hosted an event dedicated to “The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS): Improving Food Security at the Nexus of Climate,

  5. Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of America (NAPA)

    September 29, 2024 • Baton Rouge, Louisiana

    Lal Carbon Center Alumnus Bharat Shrestha (2005) invited Dr. Lal to meet with the members of NAPA and present a keynote lecture on “Sustainable Soil Management and Agriculture as a Part of the Solution to Adaptation and Mitigation of

6. Arrivals & Departures

  1. Welcome: Dr. Ahmed Elgharably

    By Ahmed Elgharably

    Dr. Elgharably obtained his Ph.D. in soil fertility and plant nutrition from the University of Adelaide, Australia (2008). He has been an academic, now professor, teaching soil science courses in Dept Soils and Water, Assiut University, Egypt, but also filled in

  2. Farewell: Dr. Toru Nakajima

    By Toru Nakajima

    I am grateful to have been a Visiting Fellow at the CFAES Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration (Lal Carbon Center) from November 2023 to October 2024. During this period, I studied “Soil Organic Carbon Stock for Carbon Credit in Smallholder Farms”

  3. Farewell: Dr. Lauren Baldarelli

    By Lauren Baldarelli

    As a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Lal Carbon Center over the past year a half, I’ve gained on-farm experience that will undoubtedly advance my career in agricultural research. Working with the farmers on the Stark Sustainable Soils project has been an incredible

  4. Farewell: Dr. Carla Gavilan

    By Carla Gavilan

    I just wanted to express my gratitude for the time I spent at Ohio State University and the Lal Carbon Center.  Thanks to all of you for being part of my time there; working (and learning) with you over the past year has been great, and I’m grateful for the support,

  5. Farewell: Manan Kapoor

    We wish Manan the best as he embarks on his new position at the University of Cincinnati! Thank you for your contributions to the Center, and please keep in touch!

     

7. Quarterly Publications

  1. Altitude, land use and soil depth effects on earthworm density and its relationship to soil properties in an on-farm study

    By Ameeta Adhikari, Yadunath Bajgai, Jimba Rabgyal, Rattan Lal, Nima Tshering, Sarda Gurung, and Tashi Wangdi

  2. Books Edited

    El-Beltagy, A., R. Lal, K. Malik. 2024. Climate Change and Sustainable Agro-ecology in Global Drylands. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International. ISBN: 978-1-80062-485-6. 

  3. Refereed Journal Articles

    Adhikari, A., Bajgai, Y., Rabgyal, J., Lal, R., Tshering, N., Gurung, S., and Wangdi, T., (2024). Altitude, land use and soil depth effects on earthworm density and its relationship to soil properties in an on-farm study. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.

  4. Chapters in Multi-Authored Books

    D’Silva, J., & McKenna, C. (Eds.). (2024). Regenerative Farming and Sustainable Diets: Human, Animal and Planetary Health (1st ed.). Routledge. Part 2, Chapter 7: Regenerative Farming and Sustainable Diets: Human, Animal, and Planetary Health. 

  5. Keynote Presentations

    Lal, R. 2024. Soil Health as a Solution to Climate and Food Crisis. Aapresid Congress, Argentina, 7th August, 2024.  Lal, R. 2024. Climate Resilient Food Systems and Carbon Agriculture. Aapresid Congress, Argentina, 8th August, 2024. 

8. Contact Us

  1. Lal Carbon Center Seminars

    Would you like to learn about advancements in soil science as they happen?