The Sequestration: Lal Carbon Center Newsletter Winter 2025

Kottman Hall in Winter

Welcome to the 2025 Winter Edition of The Sequestration, containing in-depth news about events at the Lal Carbon Center this season. We are pleased to announce that this issue of The Sequestration is digital only to meet ADA standards.  

To edit your subscription, please click here, where an option to unsubscribe will be at the bottom of the page, or please email willis.415@osu.edu directly.

1. Top Stories

  1. Soil Seminar with Dr. Soledad Benitez Ponce

    Dr. Soledad Benitez Ponce of Plant Pathology presented a seminar on Friday, January 24th entitled Exploring the Links Between Microbial Communities, Soil Carbon, and Diverse Cropping Systems. At 3:00pm in Kottman Hall 460, 16 researchers, students, and faculty convened in-person, while 17 attended online. 

  2. World Soil Day 2024

    Dr. Lal celebrated World Soil Day with a series of presentations around the world! The theme of this year's World Soil Day was "Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage." Dr. Lal flew to his native India to give his World Soil Day presentations in person at the conference on December 6th for

  3. 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29)

    The 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) occurred this year from Monday, November 11 to Friday, November 22, 2024, in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. Dr.

  4. Dr. Alan Franzluebbers presents the 2024 Rattan Lal Climate Lectureship

    The Lal Carbon Center would like to extend a hearty congratulations to Dr. Alan Franzluebbers, USDA-ARS, for his excellent presentation Soil carbon as a metric of influence to integrate science and farming communities at the ASA SSSA CSSA Rattan Lal Climate Lectureship! Sponsored by the Agronomic Science Foundation and moderated by Dr. Shannon L. Osbourne, USDA-ARS, the event took place on Tuesday, November 12th, 2024 from 10:00am - 11:00am.  It was established by Dr. Rattan Lal to support a distinguished scientist each hear who has made significant contributions to new and innovative research in climate, soil carbon, and soil health. Dr Franzluebbers joins Dr. Michelle Wander as the second scientist to be honored by the lectureship. Thank you for your important contributions, Dr. Franzluebbers!

2. Quarterly Viewpoint

  1. Quarterly Viewpoint

    From the Desk of Professor Rattan Lal

    Conference of Parties (COP) is held annually ever since the first COP in Berlin in 1995, and it was attended by 118 countries. The COP meeting in 1997 was organized in Japan and is well known as the “Kyoto Protocol.” The Paris Accord was signed at COP21 held in Paris in 2015, and 4 per 1000 (sequestration of Carbon in world soils at the rate of 0.4% per year to 40-cm depth) was also launched at COP21. In response to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco in 2016 launched the initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) to improve food security and adapt farming systems in Africa to anthropogenic climate change.

3. Center Updates

  1. C-FARM: Reeve Team Update in Utah

    By Thys Reynolds

    Last fall, Nate Ducasse, Leanna Hayes, and Thys Reynolds drove for more than 4,500 miles across Utah to sample 45 fields from a dozen farmers in seven different counties.

    For context, that’s just slightly further than driving from Utah to Panama, or roughly the same as driving from Ohio State University to Los Angeles and back.

  2. C-FARM: Chiavegato Team Update in Ohio

    Grazing and Hay Systems in Ohio

    By Ricardo Ribeiro and Marilia Chiavegato

    Our team is studying how different forage management practices for grazing and hay affect soil carbon stocks and soil health in Ohio. We are evaluating various strategies, including forage diversity, grazing methods, and fertilization across 32 farms in 22 counties across the state. The participating farms represent a wide range of soil types, climates, and management practices. This diversity allows us to capture a broad spectrum of data, making our findings applicable to a variety of farm conditions across Ohio.

  3. C-FARM: Lal Team Update in Ohio

    By Yadunath Bajgai

    Besides other soil properties, core samples are used for determination of bulk density, water-holding capacity and hydraulic properties in seven soil series (Blount, Warsaw, Pewamo, Eldean, Spinks, Gilpin and Coshocton) in Ohio. Water holding capacities or water retention capacities in different land use practices such as minimum-till, plough-till, no-till, forest and meadow in Ohio are being evaluated. Generally, soils under forest and meadow are likely to experience less or no anthropogenic disturbance and thus allow formation of better soil structure (aggregates) compared with the soils under plough-till farming. Besides land management, the soil organic matter (SOM) regulates aggregate formation. Less or no soil disturbance allow primary soil particles to integrate with SOM to the form aggregates.

  4. C-FARM: Graduate Research in Washington, D.C.

    By Sonam Rustagi

    This past fall, Sonam Rustagi interned with the Biden-Harris Administration White House Council on Environmental Quality. She worked in the Conservation (Lands) team and supported the staff in their work with establishing protected spaces such as national monuments, researching and drafting memos for the Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Brenda Mallory, and working with other components within the White House Executive Office of the President to further sustainability and climate change initiatives.

  5. C-FARM: Graduate Research in Ohio

    The Thirsty Soil: Strategic Enhancement of Water Retention Through Ecological Soil Management
    By Md. Nayem Hasan Munna

    In my ongoing research at the Lal Carbon Center, I am investigating how cover crops and organic amendments such as compost influence the plant-available water capacity (PAWC) of soil.

  6. Visiting Fellow: Dr. Ahmed Elgharably

    Dr. Ahmed Elgharably, Professor in the Department of Soils and Water at Assiut University, Egypt, is researching soil emissions of CO2 and N2O as a Visiting Fellow at the Lal Carbon Center at The Ohio State University in 2025. Here he is in the Environmental Soil Physics Lab in Kottman Hall, analyzing soil samples he gathered at the biofuel crop experiment plots in Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory on Ohio State's western campus. 

  7. NIFA: Graduate Research

    By Chinmayee Priyadarshini

    PhD student Chinmayee Priyadarshini has been working on the Impacts of Agricultural Systems on the Dynamics And Functions of Soil and Tomato-Associated Microbiome and Productivity project with Dr. Ye Xia and Dr. Rattan Lal for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 

  8. Lal Carbon Center Visitor: Dr. Daniel Abreu

    The Lal Carbon Center was very happy to receive a visit from Dr. Daniel Abreu, Assistant Professor at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in Cuiabá, Brazil, along with Dr. Michael Chrisman, Assistant Director of the Ohio International Intern Program (TOP) and Pedro Luis Mendes Pereira, Program Coordinator of TOP on Monday, February 3rd, 2025. Dr. Lal had last encountered Dr. Abreu at the World Soil Day Ohio State Brazil Gateway Forum on Climate Change on December 5th, 2023. Dr.

  9. Lal Carbon Center Visitor: Bsanthi Thavamani and Family

    The Lal Carbon Center was so pleased to have a surprise holiday visit from Bsanthi Thavamani, an Ohio State MSc student who studied soil science at Wooster under the guidance of Dr. Warren Dick.

4. Near & Far

  1. Columbus City Council Ceremonial Resolutions Event

    At the City Council Ceremonial Resolutions Event on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 4:00pm in Council Chambers, Dr. Rattan Lal was among those honored at a public ceremony held for notable organizations and residents from across the Columbus. Several City Council members attended, including Council President Shannon Hardin, Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans, Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer, and Councilmember Christopher Wyche. Specifically, the resolution recognized Dr.

  2. IARI Alumni Association Celebration

    During his trip to India in December 2024, Dr. Lal was honored to be invited to participate in the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Alumni Association Celebration with Dr. Anupama Singh, Dean and Joint Director of Education at IARI/Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Dr.

  3. C-FARM at the American Geophysical Union 24 Annual Meeting

    The Lal Carbon Center commends our colleagues who presented at the American Geophysical Union 24 Annual Meeting from December 9 - 13th, 2024. The annual event, with the 2024 theme of "What's Next for Science?" was well attended, with over 27,000 scientists, researchers, policymakers, and others present.

  4. Stark Sustainable Soils Initiative: OSU Extension Annual Conference

    By Heather Neikirk and Gunadish Khanal

    Dr. Gunadhish Khanal, Postdoctoral Scholar, Stark Sustainable Soils Initiative (SSSI), Lal Carbon Sequestration and Management Center and Heather Neikirk,Co-PI, SSSI and Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, OSU Extension Stark County, greeted attendees during the “Meet the Author” poster session at the 2024 CFAES OSU Extension Bi-Annual Conference at the Downtown Hilton Hotel and Conference Center. 

  5. The Lal Carbon Center visits the Soil Microbial Ecology Lab

    The Lal Carbon Center was pleased to visit the Soil Microbial Ecology Laboratory on Monday, November 18, 2024 with Soil Microbiologist and Researcher Dr. Nicola Lorenz, who is the Project and Lab Manager there. Lal Carbon Center members toured the facilities and learned about several ongoing projects in the laboratory, including the research of Visiting Scientist Zhiping Liu, Ph.D., Research Scientist Associate, from China. Among the research discussed was a study on “Nitrogen fixation rates and aerial root production among maize landraces.”

5. Arrivals & Departures

  1. Welcome Muhammad Ansar Farooq

    By Dr. Muhammad Ansar Farooq

    Dr. Farooq is an Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Pakistan, with a distinguished academic career beginning in 2017 at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. He holds a Ph.D. in Natural Sciences from Universität Bielefeld, Germany, and has extensive experience in both academia and industry. From 2019 to 2021, he worked with Fauji Fertilizer Company, the largest fertilizer producer in Pakistan, where he gained valuable insights into the intersection of industry and academia.

  2. Welcome Ritika Dharamkar

    By Ritika Dharamkar

    Ritika Dharamkar earned her Master of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Cincinnati and previously worked with Amazon as a Senior Data Analyst. With extensive experience in data analytics, fraud and abuse detection, machine learning, and risk management, she combines technical expertise with a passion for leveraging technology to solve real-world challenges. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from J.N.T.U, India, and has a strong research background in machine learning and artificial intelligence, focusing on their applications i

  3. Farewell Gunadhish Khanal

    By Gunadhish Kanal

    As I prepare to leave the Lal Carbon Center at the end of the month, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the invaluable experiences and knowledge I have gained here. Working on the Cover Crop Impacts on Soil Carbon Inferred by Modeling and Soil Optical Properties project and the Stark Soil Sustainability Initiative project has deepened my understanding of various aspects of soil health and its real-world applications.

  4. Farewell Noor-Us-Sabah

    By Noor Us Sabah

    I want to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful experience working alongside such a supportive team. I'll truly miss the time I spent at the CFAES Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration. I would like to expand my gratitude to Prof. Rattan Lal for providing me this opportunity and for giving me the chance to collaborate as part of the C-FARM project. Thank you for your guidance and support. Your leadership has had a lasting impact on my career. Working under your leadership has been a privilege. I’ll miss your mentorship. Your vision and dedication have been an inspiration. 

  5. Farewell Vaírton Radmann

    By Vaírton Radmann

    I want to thank God for giving me the health to complete my postdoctoral studies at the Lal Carbon Center. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Rattan Lal for the opportunity and all that he provided to me to complete my postdoctoral studies. I want to thank all my colleagues and the staff at the Lal Carbon Center for the opportunity to meet you, for the time I spent with you, and for the learning I gained during that time.

  6. Farewell Hannah Shively

    By Hannah Shively

    I learned so much from my experience at the Lal Carbon Center that I will take with me throughout my career. I am grateful to Dr. Lal for giving me the opportunity to work with him and the researchers, scholars, and students at the center.

  7. Farewell Maggie Willis

    By Maggie Willis

    I'm so glad to have an opportunity to contribute to the Lal Carbon Center over the years, and I'm grateful for all that I've learned. The work for my position has grown beyond part-time, and I have realized how important it is to have someone handling this work who has a stronger background in environmental science, so I have decided to step away from my role and return to my family and my field. 

    I plan to stay on a little longer as new hires come on, so you may still see me around for a little while. 

6. In the News

  1. Congratulations to Brittany Multer Hopkins!

    The Sustainability Institute (SI) awarded two separate research grants to Brittany Multer Hopkins, PhD candidate in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, to help advance her research in discovering carbon sequestration capabilities in soil. Please click the link for the article. 

  2. Research, supported by the Government of Amazonas, provides technical and economic information on açaí cultivation

    By Diovana Rodrigues (Decon/Fapeam)

    The Amazonas State Research Support Foundation (FAPEAM - Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas), featured an article about the research of Lal Carbon Center Visiting Scholar Vairton Radmann. Please click more for an English translation of the article. 

  3. Regenerative grazing can aid soil

    By Heather Neikirk

    Heather Neikirk writes about the ways regenerative grazing improves soil health in Farm and Dairy. Please click the link for the article. 

  4. Build healthy soil and sustainable ecosystems

    By Heather Neikirk

    Heather Neikirk writes about the complexities of building regenerative, healthy pasture systems in Farm and Dairy. Please click the link for the article. 

  5. Upcoming Event: Edward F. Hayes Advanced Research Forum

    Congratulations to Lal Carbon Center graduate student Anna Kolganova, who has been invited to give an oral presentation at the 39th Hayes Forum! The Forum had the largest applicant pool in more than ten years this year, but because of her favorable evaluation from the Forum

7. Publications & Presentations

  1. Carbon capture potential and environmental impact of concrete weathering in soil

    Congratulations to Brittany Multer Hopkins on the publication of her latest article in Science of the Total Environment. It can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177692

  2. PREVIEW: The ABCs of Soil

    PREVIEW: The Lal Carbon Center is pleased to present a draft of its newest publication The ABCs of Soil by Rattan Lal and Maggie Willis, illustrated by Maggie Willis. The book, intended for upper elementary students and anyone age 10 - 99, introduces young scientists to some concepts fundamental to understanding soil, alongside more advanced vocabulary so that the terms feel familiar as the children explore further. 

  3. 2024 Annual Publications: 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. 

  4. 2024 Annual Publications: Refereed Journal Articles

    Adhikari, A., Y. Bajgai, J. Rabgyal, R. Lal, N. Tshering, et al. 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. doi: 10.1007/s42729-024-01990-9. 

  5. 2024 Annual Publications: Chapters in Multi-Authored Books

    '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.  https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032684369 

  6. 2024 Annual Publications: Keynotes and Other Presentations

    Lal, R. 2024. Sustainable Management of Soil Health and Agriculture for Addressing Global Issues of 21st Century. 2024 Winter Enrichment Program, KAUST, Jedda, Saudi Arabia, 9th January, 2024.

  7. 2024 Annual Publications: Miscellaneous

    Miscellaneous

8. Contact Us

  1. Share your stories!

    The Lal Carbon Center (Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration) is part of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES)

    Would you like to share a news item with the Lal Carbon Center? Reach out to us via email: lalcarboncenter@gmail.com

    Lal Carbon Center
    2021 Coffey Road
    Columbus, OH 43210

     

     

  2. Lal Carbon Center Seminars

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

    Please join the Lal Carbon Center on Fridays at 3:00pm US Eastern Time over Zoom to hear presentations from our Researchers, PostDocs, and Graduate Students about recent progress in their research.

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