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Evaluating Intercropping (Living Cover) and Mulching (Desiccated Cover) Practices for Increasing Millet Yields in Senegal
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie; Trail, Patrick; Thomason, Wade E.; Thompson, Thomas L.; Gueye, Fatou; Diedhiou, Ibrahima; Diatta, Michel B.; Faye, Abdoulaye (2016-09-01)
Located within the Sahel region, Senegal faces several agricultural production challenges. Limited rainfall, poor soil fertility, and insufficient agronomic inputs all contribute to low pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] yields. This study was initiated to assess the potential for increasing millet yields through intercropping (living cover) and mulching (desiccated cover) practices. During the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons, pearl millet was intercropped with cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], or grown under mulch (neem [Azadirachta indica] leaves applied at 2 t ha–1). Field trials were conducted at two sites within Senegal’s central millet– peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) basin, in Bambey (14°41¢382 N, 16°28¢122 W) and iés (14°45¢452 N, 16°53¢142 W). Soil moisture and plant N (based on the normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]) were measured in addition to yield. When inter- cropped with a legume, millet grain yields increased up to 55% compared to millet alone. The combined grain yields under inter-cropping (millet + legume) were always higher than yields of millet alone, up to 67% in Bambey. Mulching increased soil moisture up to 14%, with yield increases of up to 70% over millet with no mulch. Plant N increased in both intercropped and mulched millet, with NDVI increases up to 21% with mulch and 16% when grown with a legume (prior to flowering). These yield increases were achieved using resources that are available and affordable to small-scale producers in the region (seeds and mulch), and did not require the addition of fertilizer input.
Experience CALS 2022: Cooking with the Hokies the Celebration of Agriculture, Food and Culture
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie (2022-04-01)
“Food is not just about fueling the body. It’s about giving and taking and sharing and nurturing and communicating. When you share food with someone, especially with people who are unlike you culturally, you gain a greater understanding of them and yourself. It’s not just a meal. It’s communion with your fellow citizens stuck together on this big ball of dust floating in the universe”. Anthony Bourdain. Food and culture are highly integrated in every global society. Food is the central core of every celebration: birth, wedding, major calendar events (New Year), and religious holidays. Thus, in the food lab, all recipes across the grain and horticultural crops discussed in class will be used to make festival foods (foods prepared during major holidays and celebrations).
Experiential Learning in the Time of COVID Pandemic: Study in the USA-Southern California and Arizona
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie; Reiter, Mark S.; Ashford-Kornburger, Dana; Ziegler, Peter; Badon, Thomas; Mason, John; Wilbur, Jessica; Haymaker, Joseph (2022-11-07)
The COVID pandemic has had an impact on higher education, especially on experiential learning opportunities. Travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancelation of several study-abroad programs. To provide the much-needed in-person experience, we created an experiential learning course titled “Study in the USA" structured to accommodate variable domestic destinations. The key driver of the course is experiential learning, hands-on and face-to-face experience with industries involved in food production. The purpose of this course is to provide students with new insights through comparison and contrasting regional production practices across the United States. Specific objectives of the course are: 1) Provide students with a baseline understanding of experiential learning so they can apply academic learning in work settings appropriate for their career plans, 2) Engage students in developing skills and competencies relating to producing food in the time of COVID-19, and climate change, and 3) Develop a deeper understanding of challenges faced by people who are engaged in all aspects of agricultural enterprises. Overall, the course provided far more than academics to help students recover from the pandemic, it provided a perfect platform for social interaction which was missing for several years due to the COVID pandemic.
Exploring the Potential Use of Teff as an Alternative Grain Crop in Virginia
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie (2022-10-07)
Teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)) is an annual, warm-season cereal crop most notable for its gluten-free, nutrient-packed seed. With more than a million tons of teff produced annually in Ethiopia and production growth in the United States, interest in teff has led to the development of this study. Experiments were conducted in two geographical regions of Virginia (Blacksburg and Steeles Tavern) to determine the grain production potential of two teff varieties (brown and white). Physical tests were used to evaluate the quality of the final product. Generally, bread and cake volume decreased as the percentage of teff increased. Teff flour was best suited for use in cookie and biscuit products compared to cakes and bread. Overall, both experiments (field and laboratory) demonstrated the potential of teff as an alternative grain crop in Virginia. However, additional research is needed to overcome problems associated with establishment, harvest, threshing, and processing.
Integrated use of organic amendments increased mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) yield and its components compared to inorganic fertilizers
Diatta, A. A.; Bassène, C.; Manga, A. G. B.; Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie; Thomason, Wade E.; Battaglia, M.; Babur, E.; Uslu, Ö.; Min, D.; Seleiman, M.; Filho, J. F. D. C. L.; Mbow, C. (Wiley, 2023-10-19)
Rainfall variability, low soil organic matter content, and costly inorganic fertilizers are the major agricultural constraints in Sub-Saharan Africa. Integrated use of compost and manure is essential for sustaining soil fertility and increasing crop productivity. This study was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of compost and animal manure on mungbean growth and yield. The 12 treatments consisted of control, recommended dose of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), 5 ton ha−1 of compost, 10 ton ha−1 of poultry, 10 ton ha−1 of cattle, and 10 ton ha−1 of sheep manure, and six combinations of organic amendments with 50% of their applied rate alone. These treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with six replications. Application of cattle manure at 10 ton ha−1 significantly increased mungbean seed yield by 66% and 84% compared to the recommended rate of NPK and control treatments, respectively. Similar observations were made on stem diameter, total pod weight, and number of seeds per pod. Plants amended with compost had the highest number of ramifications and number of pods than NPK fertilized plants, which recorded (9±) ramifications and (27±) pods per plant. On average, integrated use of 5 ton ha−1 of poultry manure + 5 ton ha−1 of cattle manure had the highest soil plant analysis development values, though not significantly different from NPK fertilizers. These results suggest that application of organic amendments could be an alternative to costly and inaccessible inorganic fertilizers for improving mungbean productivity under low-input agriculture systems.
Introducing Mung bean (Vigna radiata) as an alternative or rotation crop to Tobacco in Virginia
Wilbur, Jessica; Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie; Zhang, Bo; Wilkinson, Carol A. (2022-05-02)
Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.): For Food/Feed/Cover Crop
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie (2020-11-10)
In west Africa, particularly in Senegal, cowpea leaf is among the African indigenous vegetables that have been recommended for possible alleviation of food and nutrition insecurity. This is extremely important where leafy green vegetables are hard to come by especially during the rainy season where all resources (labor, land etc.) are allocated to row-crops. According to research findings from India, mung bean leaves and immature seed pod are rich in micronutrients, including iron and vitamin A where deficiencies are prevalent in Sub-Sahara Africa (include Senegal). Cultivation of cowpea is not common in the northern part of Senegal (St. Louis) where we have currently introduced mung bean. Among the 10 local communities and schools where we introduced mung bean in 2019, at least seven communities and schools are currently growing and consuming mung bean. While the communities are happy with the mung bean seed, they have been asking if they can consume the mung bean leaves. Therefore, we want to investigate the contribution of mung bean leaves to food and nutrition security.
Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.): Protein-rich legume for diet diversification and malnutrition reduction in the Casamance, Senegal
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie (2022-01-01)
Counterpart International (CPI) in collaboration with Virginia Tech will be engaged in a new Food for Education Program in the Casamance region of Senegal. The five-year project will be similar to the project we implemented in the St. Louis Region of the country from 2019-2021. We will use lessons learned from the previous project (St. Louis) to strengthen the capacity of 25 communities to produce mung bean and other crops in ecologically and climatically diverse regions of Senegal (Figure 1). We expect the growing conditions and cropping systems in Casamance to be drastically different from the northern region of Senegal where CPI successfully implemented a mung bean pilot project between 2019-2021. Some of the obvious differences are rainfall amount and duration, the length of the growing season, and soil types. In the St. Louis region, which forms part of the Sahel, the rainfall ranges from 300-400 mm while in the Casamance, up to 1200 mm rainfall is possible. The rainy season takes place roughly between July and November and lasts up to 6 months in the Casamance vs 3 months in the St. Louis region. Agricultural production is heavily dependent on the annual rainfall in the Casamance compared to the St. Louis region where irrigation is the main water source for agriculture.
Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.): Protein-rich legume for diet diversification and malnutrition reduction in the Casamance, Senegal: Sukaabe Janngo II Report for Q4 (August/September) – 2022
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie (2022-09-15)
Counterpart International (CPI) in collaboration with Virginia Tech will be engaged in a new Food for Education Program in the Casamance region of Senegal. The five-year project will be similar to the project CPI implemented in the St. Louis Region of the country from 2019-2021. As such, we will use lessons learned from St. Louis to strengthen the capacity of communities to produce mung bean and other crops in ecologically and climatically diverse regions of Senegal (Figure 1). We expect the growing conditions and cropping systems in Casamance to be drastically different from the northern region of Senegal where CPI successfully implemented a mung bean pilot project between 2019-2021. Some of the obvious differences are rainfall amount and duration, the length of the growing season, and soil types. In the St. Louis region, which forms part of the Sahel, the rainfall ranges from 300-400 mm while in the Casamance, up to 1200 mm rainfall is possible. The rainy season takes place roughly between July and November and lasts up to six months in the Casamance vs less than three months in St. Louis region. Agricultural production is heavily dependent on the annual rainfall in the Casamance compared to the St. Louis region where irrigation is the main water source for agriculture.
Mung bean: Nutrient-rich legume for Senegal
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie; Steensland, Ann (Global Agricultural Productivity Initiative, Virginia Tech, 2021-02-09)
Since 2019, Virginia Tech, in collaboration with Counterpart International, has been investigating the potential of mung bean to address malnutrition and food security in Senegal. The project seeks to create acceptance and increase consumption in communities to address malnutrition and food insecurity. Mung bean is a variety of pulse, the dried, edible seeds of legume plants and can be used as food, fodder, and seed. There are 11 types of pulses, each having many varieties. Dried beans, chickpeas, and lentils are the most common types of pulses.
Report on mung bean field activities – Oct 17-Nov. 2, 2019 Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.): Protein-rich legume for diet diversification and malnutrition reduction in Senegal
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie (2019-11)
Lessons learned from the first round of mung bean cultivation from “Why mung bean for Senegal”.

Mung bean’s appealing quality for Senegal includes its quick and aggressive start, short season or early maturing (50-65 days from planting to harvest), its dual use for food and livestock feed, and high market value.

Mung bean is well adapted to Senegal’s climate and growing conditions include drought tolerance, and adaptation to marginal soils, relatively low nutrient requirements, and low management requirements.

Mung bean can be used as a food, livestock feed, or cover crop. As a food, dried beans (whole or split) may be consumed with staple crops such as rice or millet. Mung bean, thus, represents a major addition to the limited legume crops and supplement to cereal-based diets in Senegal.

Mung bean producers from Senegal’s river valley (floodplain recession), may have competitive advantage compared to those growing mung bean under rain-fed and/or irrigation regimes. This is due to the high water-holding capacity of the heavy clay soil.

Positive feedback on new/alternative crop (mung bean) as a means to diversify the cropping systems, add potential income to the household and contribute to dietary diversification of the community.

Positive feedback from women included the ease and desirability of mung bean harvest, food preparation, and utilization (taste good).

The meetings and field visits provided opportunity for the farmers to interact with each other, school officials, reginal and local facilitators and VT/CPI project leaders. Mung bean also provided a platform for all the stakeholders involved to discuss diet diversification and malnutrition reduction at the community level.

Overall, the excitement surrounding the introduction, production and consumption of mung bean in the St. Louis region of Senegal has been incredibly exciting and encouraging.

We observed no reservation or uncertainty on how to handle/manage a new and unfamiliar crop like mung bean.
Study in the USA: Arkansas
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie; Reiter, Mark S.; Ziegler, Peter (2022-02-17)
A key driver of the Arkansas trip was experiential learning, hands-on and face-to-face experience with industries involved in food production, marketing, and consumption. Emphasis will be on teamwork and acquiring skills necessary to solve real-world problems. The overall objective of the trip was to give insights into differences in production practices between Arkansas and Virginia. Differing experiences allow students to connect the dots between classroom learning, experiences already learned within Virginia, and a new cropping system that varies drastically.
Study in the USA: Arkansas, California and Arizona
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie; Reiter, Mark S. (2022-03-16)
The COVID pandemic has had an impact on higher education, especially on experiential learning experiences. Due to the COVID pandemic, we canceled several study abroad programs. To provide the much-needed hands-on and face-to-face experience, we created an experiential learning course titled “Study in the USA" with variable destinations. The key driver of the course is experiential learning, hands-on and face-to-face experience with industries involved in food production. It is the purpose of this course to give insights into differences in production practices between the western states like Arizona and California and mid-Atlantic states like Virginia. Specific objectives of the course are: 1) Provide students with a baseline understanding of experiential learning so they can apply academic learning in work settings appropriate for their career plans, 2) Engage students in developing skills and competencies relating to producing food in the time of COVID- and climate change, and 3) Develop a deeper understanding of challenges faced by people who are engaged in all aspects of agricultural enterprises. While in California and Arizona, the course focused on water issues including water scarcity, availability and utilization of water, and most importantly, the politics of water. The course also explored labor issues specifically associated with vegetable production, indigenous farming, and way of life. Overall, the course provided far more than academics to help students recover from the pandemic, it provided a perfect platform for social interaction which was missing for several years due to the COVID pandemic.
Virginia Cooperative Extension Agronomy Handbook 2023
Abaye, Azenegashe Ozzie; Bendfeldt, Eric S.; Brann, Daniel E.; Evanylo, Gregory K.; Fike, John H.; Flessner, Michael L.; Ferreira, Gonzalo; Galbraith, John M.; Goatley, James; Hardiman, Thomas H.; Maguire, Rory O.; Payne, Kathryn M.; Reiter, Mark S.; Singh, Vijay; Thomason, Wade E. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2011-12-11)
Agronomy is a diverse science that focuses on the production of field crops and turfgrass. Specific disciplines that contribute to the successful production of crops include (but are not limited to) crop and variety or cultivar selection, seed science, soil management, nutrient management, soil ecology, pesticide usage, and postharvest handling of crops. This publication is intended to serve as a source of agronomic information to assist farmers and producers as well as students pursuing basic knowledge of agronomic practices. Pesticide and varietal recommendations change frequently and are, therefore, not included. This type of information is published annually in the Virginia Tech Pest Management Guides and commodity specific publications such as the Virginia Corn Hybrid and Management Trials. Contact your local Extension agent for a copy of the latest publication or visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension web page at http://www.ext.vt.edu. For specific updates on crop production in Virginia, contact your local Extension agent for the latest information from the Virginia Agricultural Statistics Bulletin or contact the Virginia Agricultural Statistics Service in Richmond, Virginia, directly at (800) 928-5277, or at their website http://www.nass.usda.gov/va/.

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