“Soil degradation and crop yield declines persist 5 years after pipeline installations” with Theresa Brehm.

Underground pipeline installations are crucial for energy supply, helping to meet rising demand. However, these installations can significantly impact agricultural lands due to soil excavation, heavy machinery use, and resulting soil disturbances. Although companies typically offer support to farmers for up to five years, claiming that soil health and productivity are restored within that period, many farmers report ongoing issues with soil degradation and reduced crop yields. This highlights the need to evaluate the true impact of pipeline installations on soil health and crop productivity and to assess the effectiveness of remediation efforts in restoring soil vitality. In this episode, Theresa Brehm shares insights from her research on assessing the impacts of pipeline installations on soil health and agricultural productivity in Ohio state, along with insights from farmers' experiences.

 

Tune in to learn:

·        What are the impacts of underground pipeline installations on soil health and crop productivity?

·        How are farmers compensated for their losses?

·        How do pipeline installations affect soil texture, porosity, and crop yields?

·        How effective are company-led land remediation efforts in restoring soil health and productivity?

·        What are the long-term challenges of restoring soil health after pipeline installations?

If you would like more information about this topic, this episode’s paper is available here: https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20506

This paper is always freely available.

Contact us at [email protected] or on Twitter @FieldLabEarth if you have comments, questions, or suggestions for show topics, and if you want more content like this don’t forget to subscribe. If you’d like to see old episodes or sign up for our newsletter, you can do so here: https://fieldlabearth.libsyn.com/.

If you would like to reach out to Theresa Brehm, you can find her here: [email protected]

If you would like to reach out to Amanda Duim Ferreira from our Student Spotlight, you can find her here: [email protected]

Resources

CEU Quiz: https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses/Course-Detail?productid=%7b20F47A3C-1FA8-EF11-8A69-6045BD07B9E9%7d 

Transcripts: https://www.rev.com/app/transcript/NjczNjM4NjJhMGI4MDA3Zjc2OWU0MjQwUmpDQmxtUldRejlI/o/VEMwNjYwNzk3NTQ2 

Evaluation of Pipeline Installation on Crop Productivity in Ohio: https://soilfertility.osu.edu/https%3A/soilfertility.osu.edu/node/170/evaluation-pipeline-installation-crop-productivity-ohio

“Pipeline installation effects on soils and plants: A review and quantitative synthesis” published in Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment: https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20312

Summary of Landowner Experience Survey: https://soilfertility.osu.edu/sites/soilf/files/imce/Research/Landowner%20Pipeline%20Experiences.pdf

“How Pipeline Installations Impact Agricultural Fields and Landowners” published in Crops & Soils: https://doi.org/10.1002/crso.20338

Thank you to our volunteer Om Prakash Ghimire for regular help with the shownotes and other assets. Thank you to Cole Shalk from 12twelve Media for the Audio Processing on today's episode.

Field, Lab, Earth is Copyrighted by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.