A sunrise over the research site near Tioga, ND, the morning of final harvesting in October 2019. Biomass and grain yield measurements were taken from one square meter quadrats.

Grain sorghum with visible seed head (panicle) throughout the site. Most plots had similar vegetation growth except for the stockpiled, contaminated subsoil. Soil microbial activity is often reduced in disturbed or contaminated soils.

Steve Jensen, who discovered the oil spill while harvesting in 2013 and owns the remediated land, inspects the maturing grain sorghum. There was a mix of contaminated and uncontaminated soils at the site. Microbes were more abundant and varied in thermally desorbed soils compared to contaminated soils.