Thousands of farmers, students, professionals, and families gathered at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio, for the 62nd Annual Farm Science Review – a three-day event featuring innovative products, live demonstrations, and research in agriculture.
The Soil Fertility Lab participated in the event, showcasing ongoing projects in conservation agriculture, soil fertility and soil health. Lab members shared key findings from over 60 years of research on no-tillage and crop rotations in Ohio, discussed ways to improve soil health during a ‘Women in Agriculture’ event, and introduced local farmers to intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza). Kernza is a promising perennial grain crop with dual-use for both forage and grain production and potential to improve overall soil health.
Visitors also had the chance to see hands-on soil health test demonstrations, including soil aggregate stability – an indicator of how well soil particles hold together, which affects water infiltration and erosion resistance. Another popular display was the Permanganate Oxidizable Carbon test, which measures active carbon in the soil. This display was favorite among kids, who observed how color changes with varying levels of soil carbon, with darker colors indicating lower carbon levels and lighter colors indicating more active carbon in the soils.
The event provided an opportunity to engage with the agricultural community and show practical strategies for improving soil health and sustainability.
Below are some pictures of the event, with Dr. de Camargo Santos showing kids how we perform soil health tests in the lab (top left), Ben Robinson excited with the layout of our demonstration booth (top right), and a demonstration of the active carbon in the soil by Ben and Valeria Moreira (bottom).
Authors: Aline de Camargo Santos, Valeria Moreira, Naiima Abdi, and Manbir Rakkar.