Energy and Environment
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Wild Mushrooms
February 2022There are 2,000 or more kinds of wild mushrooms in Ohio. Some are poisonous, and some are edible and delicious when properly prepared. -
Low-Cost Treatment of Food Processing Wastewater
August 2021In southwest Ohio a small turkey processing plant was facing closure. The permitted lagoon system that had treated the plant wastewater for decades created odors and threatened the groundwater. The co... -
Improving Biomass Properties via Densification and Upgrading
July 2021What is biomass densification and upgrading?
Agricultural residues and energy crops usually have irregular shapes and a low bulk density, resulting in loose harvest formats and a corresponding ener... -
Forage as Vegetative Cover for Utility-Scale Solar in Ohio
June 2021The Midwest has seen an increase in photovoltaic (PV) solar energy production over the past several years. Nowhere is this more evident than in Ohio. Traditional ground cover options for utility-scale... -
Hydrothermal Carbonization: Upgrading Waste Biomass to Char
January 2021What is hydrothermal carbonization?
Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a thermochemical conversion process that uses heat to convert wet biomass feedstocks to hydrochar. HTC is performed in ... -
Important Aspects of an Oil and Gas Lease
July 2020Oil and gas exploration may have great economic implications for landowners; however, money is not the only issue at stake when preparing a lease. A good lease is about maximizing economic gains and p... -
Growing Hardy Figs in Ohio
May 2020The fig (Ficus carica L.) has been grown as a fruit crop for many centuries and is even considered an ancient fruit (Stover et al., 2007). Many people all over the world have enjoyed the edible fig; w... -
Kiwifruit and Hardy Kiwi (Kiwiberries)
May 2020Kiwifruit is well-known for its high nutritional value and has become very popular with consumers all over the world. More than 90% of kiwifruit is currently grown in New Zealand. Kiwifruit production... -
Household Water Use
May 2020Household water use is on the decline, which is good news. Water use by families was steadily increasing since the 1950s reaching its peak in the late 1990s. The required use of low-flush toilets and ... -
Global Climate Change: Update 2020
January 2020The topic of global climate change has emerged over the past decade as the most widely discussed environmental subject in the world. It also shows no sign of taking a lower profile in coming years. Th... -
Phosphorus Nutrient Management for Yield and Reduced P Loss at Edge of Field
March 2021Eight steps to maximize returns to phosphorus (P) in row crop production while reducing downstream contributions to streams and lakes.
Evaluate concentrated water flows leaving a field look... -
Soil Evaluation for Home Septic Systems
September 2019The first step in constructing a septic system is to understand and describe the soil. Soil is an excellent medium for treating wastewater and is the most important part of a septic system. &nbs... -
Calculating Cation Exchange Capacity, Base Saturation, and Calcium Saturation
August 2019The purpose of this fact sheet is to define soil cation exchange capacity, base saturation and calcium saturation, and demonstrate how these values are calculated in soil test reports.
Cation Excha... -
Septic Tank: Soil Treatment System
August 2019Homes not served by a public sewer must treat and disperse wastewater on the lot. Septic tanks with soil treatment systems (also known as leach fields) are a common onsite system. The septic tank remo... -
Septic Tank: Mound System
July 2019Ohio has large areas of soils that are too shallow for typical septic tank-leach field systems, which require 36 inches of suitable soil before hitting a limiting layer. Limiting layers are bedrock, s... -
Why Do Septic Systems Malfunction?
July 2019A properly functioning septic system removes pollutants from wastewater, and with proper usage and maintenance, the system should work for decades, protecting public health and the environment. Howeve... -
Septic System Care and Maintenance
June 2019Homes beyond the reach of a city sewer must treat and disperse wastewater on their lots. This household sewage treatment system requires regular care and maintenance just like other components of a ho... -
Pesticide Exposure
June 2019Objective: To know the types and causes of pesticide exposure and how to prevent exposures.
Trainer’s Note
Discuss how personal protective equipment can protect the appli... -
Shock Chlorination of Wells
June 2019If a water test reveals a well is contaminated with bacteria, a series of actions are needed to protect the health of the family and visitors to the home.
First, don’t panic. Bacterial contam... -
Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water
May 2019Storms, floods, and water line breaks can all cause disruptions in drinking water supply. Camping and hiking spots in remote areas may have unsanitary water supplies. Most importantly, traveling outsi...