Browsing by Author "Eash, Neal S."

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    Agricultural Actors, Networks, and Farmer Identity: Examining Perspectives and Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Botha Bothe, Lesotho
    Lamb, Jennifer Nicole; Moore, Keith M.; Marake, Makoala V.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Wilcox, Michael D.; Eash, Neal S.; The LTRA 9 Team (Blacksburg, VA: Office of International Research and Development, Virginia Tech, 2013)
    Lesotho’s highly eroded land has the potential to be rejuvenated by the utilization of conservation agriculture (CA) practices. This paper considers the relationships between local mindsets for agricultural production, beliefs about CA, and social networks to comment on the current process of CA development and dissemination in Botha Bothe District. Surveys were conducted with 430 households from ten villages, some from the lowlands, some from the foothills, and others in the highlands. Follow-up surveys were conducted in one highland village and one lowland village, and the data was used for network analysis in order to understand the dynamics between social networks, farmers’ contacts, and adoption behaviors. Variations in responses were also analyzed with regard to gender and farm size. The authors find that lowland farmers are generally more supportive of CA than are highland farmers, that full adopters tend to receive information from sources external to the community, and that many important local actors are skeptical of CA.
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    Bowen Ratio Energy Balance Measurement of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Fluxes of No-Till and Conventional Tillage Agriculture in Lesotho
    O'Dell, Deb; Sauer, Thomas J.; Hicks, Bruce B.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Smith, David R.; Bruns, Wendy A.; Basson, August; Marake, Makoala V.; Walker, Forbes; Wilcox, Michael D.; Eash, Neal S. (Open Journal of Soil Science, 2014)
    Global food demand requires that soils be used intensively for agriculture, but how these soils are managed greatly impacts soil fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2). Soil management practices can cause carbon to be either sequestered or emitted, with corresponding uncertain influence on atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The situation is further complicated by the lack of CO2 flux measurements for African subsistence farms. For widespread application in remote areas, a simple experimental methodology is desired. As a first step, the present study investigated the use of Bowen Ratio Energy Balance (BREB) instrumentation to measure the energy balance and CO2 fluxes of two contrasting crop management systems, till and no-till, in the lowlands within the mountains of Lesotho. Two BREB micrometeorological systems were established on 100-m by 100-m sites, both planted with maize (Zea mays) but under either conventional (plow, disk-disk) or no-till soil management systems. The results demonstrate that with careful maintenance of the instruments by appropriately trained local personnel, the BREB approach offers substantial benefits in measuring real time changes in agroecosystem CO2 flux. The periods where the two treatments could be compared indicated greater CO2 sequestration over the no-till treatments during both the growing and non-growing seasons.
  • Building international partnerships and funding for climate change work in Guatemala, Lesotho, and Mozambique
    Walker, Forbes; Eash, Neal S.; Marake, Makoala V.; Thierfelder, Christian; Basson, August; Rustrick, W. (2015-01-27)
    This poster was presented on October 23rd, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio at 3:05 in the afternoon in the Duke Energy Convention Center. This presentation discussed some of the international projects that the University of Tennessee soil science faculty have been involved with in Guatemala, Lesotho, and Mozambique since 2006. Funding for these such project is a differcult task, but funding from these project was made possible by the USDA, USAID, and some alumni donors. Partners include other Universities, International Research Centers, private companies, and local non-governmental organizations.
  • Can residual effects of green manure cover crops (GMCC) solve N fertilizer challenges in conservation agriculture (CA) systems of Southern Africa?
    Cheesman, S.; Thierfelder, Christian; Eash, Neal S. (2012)
    This poster was presented on October 22nd, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. This poster contained information on the lack of accessible fertilizer in Southern Africa. Means of alternative fertilizers is important in order to increase production and the biomass of the soil. Green manure cover crops (GMCC) offer the ability to increase Nitrogen fertilization for small-scale farmers. A four year conservation agriculture trial was carried out at the University Farm and Domboshava Training Center in Zimbabwe.
  • Carbon sequestration in a tilled and untilled maize field in Lesotho, Southern Africa
    Bruns, Wendy A.; Eash, Neal S.; Sauer, T.; Walker, Forbes; West, T. O.; Marake, Makoala V.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Wilcox, Michael D.; Bruns, M. (2015-01-22)
    This presentation was given at the Soil Science Society of America annual meeting on October 19th, 2011 in San Antonio Texas at 10:05 in the morning. No-till agriculture was practiced in Lesotho, Southern Africa, while observing the amount of carbon emissions in the atmosphere during the growing season. Comparisons were made between land under no-till and crop rotation management and land practicing plowed.
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    Conservation agriculture and household wellbeing: A non-causal comparison among smallholder farmers in Mozambique
    McNair, William E.; Eash, Neal S.; Lambert, Dayton M.; De La Torre Ugarte, Daniel G.; Wilcox, Michael D.; Thierfelder, Christian (2015)
    This research examines the relationship between household wellbeing and the use of conservation agriculture (CA) by smallholder farmers in Mozambique. Wellbeing indicators are regressed on household demographic attributes, farm management practices, and a variable indicating farmer adoption of CA. Findings suggest that households using CA have higher wellbeing index scores related to farm tool and implement ownership and housing material quality, but lower index scores related to livestock ownership. The findings present an encouraging, baseline picture of the association between the use of CA technologies by farmers in Mozambique and household wellbeing.
  • Conservation Agriculture in Lesotho: Residue Use Patterns Among CA adopters vs. Non-Adopters
    Wilcox, Michael D.; Bisangwa, E.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Marake, Makoala V.; Walker, F. R.; Eash, Neal S.; Moore, Keith M.; Park, W. M. (2012)
    Recent efforts by the Government of Lesotho, non-government organizations (NGOs), and international attention have focused on developing conservation agriculture (CA) practices adapted to the cultural, economic, and agro-ecological conditions in Lesotho. Understanding the influence of the introduction of CA technologies on soil erosion, yields, labor allocation and gender roles is of critical importance for successfully deploying sustainable agriculture technologies.
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    Conservation agriculture in Lesotho: The drivers of adoption and the role of extension
    Bisangwa, E.; Wilcox, Michael D.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Marake, Makoala V.; Walker, F. R.; Eash, Neal S.; Park, W. M. (2012)
    Recent efforts by the Government of Lesotho, non-government organizations (NGOs), and international attention have focused on developing conservation agriculture (CA) practices adapted to the cultural, economic, and agro-ecological conditions. In particular, understanding the influence of the introduction of CA technologies on soil erosion, yields, labor allocation and gender roles is of critical importance for developing sustainable agriculture technologies. This research is a collaborative effort between The National University of Lesotho and The University of Tennessee.
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    Conservation agriculture in Mozambique - Literature review and research gaps
    Grabowski, P. P.; Walker, Forbes; Haggblade, S.; Maria, R.; Eash, Neal S. (Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique, 2013)
    Conservation agriculture (CA) has been promoted in Mozambique since 1996 in order to increase
  • Crop residue effects on soil quality following 10-years of no-till corn
    Karlen, D. L.; Wollenhaupt, N. C.; Erbach, D. C.; Berry, E. C.; Swan, J. B.; Eash, Neal S.; Jordahl, J. L. (Elsevier B.V., 1994)
    The purpose of this study was two-fold: First, the authors evaluate the soil quality of a ten-year no-till corn trial with no residues, residues, or double residues, assessing numerous indicators of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Second, they use the indicators to develop an index of soil quality based on four functions of soil:
  • Developing sustainable conservation agriculture for smallholder farmers in Southern Africa
    Eash, Neal S.; Walker, Forbes; Thierfelder, Christian; Marake, Makoala V.; Wilcox, Michael D.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Basson, August (2012)
    This presentation was given at the Soil Science Society of America annual meeting on October 22nd, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio at 11:10 in the morning. Conservation agricultural practices were used in Southern Africa's cropping system to improve soil nutrient, improve food security, sequester carbon, and mitigate green house gases.
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    Developing sustainable conservation agriculture systems for smallholders in Southern Africa: Lesotho & Mozambique
    Eash, Neal S. (Blacksburg, VA: SANREM CRSP, OIRED, Virginia Tech, 2010)
    This presentation presents the research proposal for developing conservation agriculture (CA) systems in southern Africa (LTRA-9). In the two countries of Lesotho and Mozambique, food security is an increasingly pertinent issue and the response from farmers is to plow more land. This has led to decreased soil organic matter, decreased soil fertility, and erosion. Through the collaboration of researchers and community members, no-till techniques will be tested with the goal of increasing incomes, food security, and gender equity for small-scale farmers in this South African region.
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    Developing sustainable subsistence smallholder conservation agricultural systems in Lesotho
    Eash, Neal S.; Walker, Forbes; Lambert, Dayton M.; Wilcox, Michael D.; Marake, Makoala V.; Wall, Patrick; Basson, August; Bruns, Wendy A.; Bruns, M. (2011)
    The average subsistence maize yield in Lesotho is very low (less than 0.3 Mg/ha) due to excessive soil erosion rates, low soil fertility, high fertilizer and herbicide cost, moisture/nutrient loss from weed competition, and high labor requirements for hand weeding. The break-even yields for subsistence farmers are approximately 2 Mg/ha or approximately seven times the average yield. This study was conducted to determine the economically viable nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer rates, planting density, cover crop weed suppression effectiveness, and cultivation methods for maize production. The soils at the experiment site were silty clay loam and located near Mohale's Hoek. The 2009 results indicated that the most expensive smallholder farming method was the hired tractor or animal draft that used hired labor for weeding and was followed closely by likoti ('pothole' method). The most cost effective method was the use of no-till planter. Cover crops suppressed up to 90% of Common Thistle and Cape Tulip (Moraea flaccida), with Grazing Vetch (Vicia sativa) the most effective weed suppressor. Both higher N and P rates and population densities are needed because yields continued to increase at the higher fertilizer rates and population densities. Results from the first year of data suggest that cover crops will be an important component in weed control. Fertilizer N and P rates need to be increased as do the target plant populations.
  • A First Look at Maize Markets and Demographics among Conservation Agriculture Adopters and Non Adopters in Mozambique
    McNair, W. E.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Wilcox, Michael D.; Eash, Neal S.; Thierfelder, Christian (2012)
    Mozambique has 1.4 million hectares of arable land suitable for producing maize. Average yields are low (920 kg/ha in 2008 (FAOSTAT). The livelihoods of most families depend on small-scale agriculture. Maize is the main staple and accounts for most of the population’s caloric intake.
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    LTRA 9 - Developing Sustainable Conservation Agricultural Production Systems for Smallholder Farmers in Southern Africa
    Eash, Neal S.; Simone, T.; Cuvaca, I.; Mpheshea, M.; Mbuthia, L.; O'Dell, D. (2014)
    This PowerPoint summarizes the research and training activities of SANREM’s regional project in Lesotho and Mozambique. During the presentation, each graduate student involved in the project gave a brief description of their research. Timoteo Simone presented research on adoption, returns, payments for environmental services (PES) and conservation agriculture practices (CAPs). Ivan Cuvaca discussed cassava tuber yield and quality as influenced by NPK fertilizer. Molefi Mpheshea described maize yield response to fertilizer in Lesotho and aspects of soil quality. Lilian Mbuthia examined whether microbial populations change under long term conservation agriculture, and Deb O’ Dell compared carbon dioxide Flux between Till and No-till in Lesotho.
  • Maize yield response to N, P, K, population, and planting date in Lesotho, Southern Africa
    Bruns, M.; Walker, Forbes; Eash, Neal S.; Jones, W.; Marake, Makoala V.; Wilcox, Michael D.; Lambert, Dayton M.; Stobbe, E. (2011)
    This is an abstract of a presentation at the Soil Science Society of America meeting in San Antinio, Texas on Wednesday October 19th, 2011 at 10:20 in the morning. The presentation includes conservation agriculture techniques used in Lestho in Sub-Sahara Africa to increase soil carbon, in turn increasing production yields. This is an area of minimal data, therefore a variety of farming types were used, which include livelihood farming, small-scale farming, and large-scale farming
  • Maize-based conservation agriculture systems in Malawi: Long-term trends in productivity
    Thierfelder, Christian; Chisui, J. L.; Gama, M.; Cheesman, S.; Jere, Z. D.; Bunderson, W. T.; Eash, Neal S.; Rusinamhodzi, L. (2013)
    Continuous maize cultivation in Malawi has degraded the soils, but conservation agriculture (CA) offers an option for improving soil quality while increasing yields. However, the effect of CA can vary widely by agro-ecological context. This study evaluates this effect by comparing CA productivity trends in nine communities in the southern and central regions of Malawi. In each target community six experiments were established which applied three treatments: conventional ridge and furrow system with maize; CA with maize and CA with maize and a legume intercrop. Variability among communities was explored using principal component analysis. Site characteristics, seasonal effects, and cropping system (CA or conventional) were found to significantly impact maize grain yield. CA cropping systems had higher time-to-pond than conventional, suggesting improved water infiltration. Improvements in yield as a result of CA production systems were universal across all communities, despite vast differences in biophysical characteristics. However, these yield improvements were not immediately significant, becoming evident after three to five seasons.
  • Managing soil fertility in organic cropping systems: What are your options?.
    Walker, Forbes; Eash, Neal S. (2010)
    Many agricultural producers are considering switching to organic production systems. The successful management of soil fertility through the selection of the appropriate soil amendments is a key component of any successful organic program. The USDA National Organic Program lists numerous plant, animal and mineral based products that can be used in organic production systems. This presentation will be an overview the range of products that can be used to provide the primary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in organic productions systems, as well as review some of the limitations and costs associated with their use.
  • Mitigating effects of climate change through conservation agriculture and drought-tolerant open-pollenated maize varieties in Mozambique
    Thierfelder, Christian; Sentimela, P.; Eash, Neal S.; Walker, Forbes (2012)
    This poster was presented on October 23rd, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio at four in the after noon. Conservation agriculture practice in southern Africa was combined with drought-tolerant maize in order to benefit of genetic improvement and sustainable land management. Various environmental and crop benefits were found, including better tasting corn and easier pounding of maize for porridge.
  • Risk and maize-based cropping systems for smallholder Malawi farmers using conservation agriculture technologies
    Ngwira, A. R.; Thierfelder, Christian; Eash, Neal S.; Lambert, Dayton M. (2013)
    Conservation agriculture (CA) offers the potential to increase yields, but the short-term risk of implementation can discourage adoption among risk-adverse, food-insecure smallholder farmers. This paper assesses the riskiness of CA adoption for farmers in Malawi. A six year study was conducted in 12 target communities in two agroecological zones which compared the risk of adopting CA techniques (no-till monocropped maize or no-till maize intercropped with a legume) against that of conventional agricultural practices (monocropped maize with tillage). Risk analysis was conducted using stochastic dominance, mean variance, relative risk criterion, target net return probability analysis, certainty equivalent and risk premium analysis. Using net returns data from both agroecological zones, each of these approaches calculated that CA presents lower risk than conventional agriculture. This also held true for the data from the lower altitude sites. However, at higher elevations, a less dramatic difference in net returns meant that CA would be preferred only by farmers who are not highly averse to risk; those who are highly risk averse would require a larger incentive.