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Dec 12, 2022
Decisions that farmers and government officials make – sometimes with good intentions – result in nitrogen escaping the agricultural landscape to create algal blooms and emit greenhouse gases. In the United States, 79 percent of nitrous oxide emissions come from agriculture. Nitrous oxide emissions from China’s agriculture in 2008 accounted for 74 percent of all the country’s N2O emissions. Nitrous oxide, a powerful, long-lived greenhouse gas that is 300 times stronger than CO2that persists in the atmosphere for 120 years.
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Aug 11, 2022
China is number 1 in the world in the use of plastic mulch in agriculture. Not surprizingly, much of the research on environmental issues caused by plastic pollution of soils and technology to reduce plastic pollution are also emerging from China. Just published in the New Security Beat is Biodegradable Plastic in Chinese and US Agriculture.
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Jul 21, 2022
The new Extension manual "Low-pressure Piping in Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems for Ohio" authored by Drs. Kristen Conroy and Karen Mancl just received an Outstanding Bulletin Blue Ribbon Award from the American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers. Find the manual
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May 10, 2022
On the webinar "Climate Action Down on the Farm" hosted by the Wilson Center China Environment Forum Karen spoke about "Success in Sustainable Agriculture to Combat Climate Change in the US and China". Her presentation starts at 54:20. Climate Webinar
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Apr 29, 2022
Ocean plastic pollution looms large as a growing threat to both marine ecosystems and seafood safety. Sadly, microplastics polluting the soil is an even bigger, yet less visible, threat to food security that demands more attention and action. As much as 23 times more microplastics are dumped on agricultural soils than are disposed of in the ocean. To learn more go to the New Security Beat
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Mar 10, 2022
The global consumption of plastic mulch is almost 2 million tons per year, of which about 75 percent is used in China. Because of the extensive and continuous use of plastic mulch, agricultural plastic film residual pollution is uniquely Chinese. To learn more go to New Security Beat
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Dec 3, 2021
New Bulletin - Low-pressure piping in Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems in Ohio
An LPP is a shallow, pressure-dosed soil absorption system that evenly distributes wastewater in the entire trench area. LPP systems may be required at sites with shallow limiting conditions. They are also benefitial for any system that requires pumping the effluent upslope.
Purchase and download a copy of the new bulletin at this link
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Nov 1, 2021
Just published - an article on the new online training course. The 2021 offering just closed with plans for 2022 starting June 1 - through Oct 31. To learn more about the course check the paper presented at the 2021 conference of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association. Link to paper
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Oct 26, 2021
In water stressed areas, flush toilets using fresh water are unsustainable. This paper explores the ability of intermittent sand bioreactors (ISBs) to treat seawater salinity septic tank effluent for on-site wastewater treatment in coastal regions. To find out more go to Water Science and Technology.
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Oct 20, 2021
In 2019, U.S. Customs seized 3400 pounds of invasive Chinese mitten crabs at the Cincinnati, Ohio airport. The mitten crab threatens commercial fishing and biodiversity and is listed on the top 100 worst invader list. China is hosting the 15th meeting of the Convention on Biodiversity and is in a position to show leadership in protecting aquatic environments.
To learn more go to China US Focus
