Ohio study expands agricultural runoff monitoring

Ohio State University, Ohio State University Extension Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service are conducting a study to measure the nutrients in agricultural runoff in several counties across northwest Ohio, the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum has reported.

The study, which will use dozens of monitoring stations, is designed to prevent algal blooms in the Lake Erie Basin by helping change the agricultural practices of area farmers.

The monitoring stations will help researchers attempt to correlate nutrient loss with particular soil types to help farmers judge how they can maintain their fields to avoid excessive runoff.

The runoff data could help farmers adapt their nutrient management practices and water drainage systems to use fertilizers more effectively.

Image: And example of an edge-of-field monitoring station (Credit: Minnesota Department of Agriculture)