PROJECT OVERVIEW
Numerous natural gas pipelines have been installed in across Ohio and neighboring states with installation to continue over the next several years. These installations have collectively resulted in a large amount of soil disturbance in the state, but the lasting effects of this disturbance on crop productivity, if any, is largely unknown.
We are conducting a study to better understand the impacts of the Rover, Utopia and Nexus pipelines on soil properties and crop productivity. Watch Theresa present her work here:
RESEARCH APPROACH
We are taking a comprehensive approach to this study, which includes:
- Sampling farmers fields with pipelines installed to compare soil and crops over the pipeline vs. adjacent unaffected areas
- Conducting a state-wide survey to better understand farmer's experiences working pipeline companies
- Expanding our ground-truthed on-farm work through analysis of yield maps and remote sensed satellite imagery
A preliminary report from the 2020 field season can be found here.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact Theresa Brehm at brehm.112@osu.edu or (614) 706-2037.