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Articles 1 - 16 of 16
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Pasturelands As Natural Climate Solutions: A Socioecological Study Of Tree Carbon And Beef Production Trade-Offs, Bela Starinchak
Pasturelands As Natural Climate Solutions: A Socioecological Study Of Tree Carbon And Beef Production Trade-Offs, Bela Starinchak
Masters Theses, 2020-current
Forest restoration is the most effective natural climate solution, with the potential to sequester 37% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) needed to reach the Paris climate mitigation goal. Cattle pastures offer an underutilized opportunity to increase global forest restoration efforts, improve biodiversity, and maximize carbon storage through the adoption of management strategies that prioritize the incorporation of trees into pasturelands. However, remote estimations of tree carbon storage in pastoral systems have never been field-verified and their accuracy is unclear. Furthermore, the effect of increased trees on cattle production is understudied across biomes. Lastly, the restoration potential of these …
Sustainable Agriculture: Integration Of Aquaponics At Punta Leona Hotel And Club In Costa Rica, Cailin Sierra Dyer, Paris Riley Smith
Sustainable Agriculture: Integration Of Aquaponics At Punta Leona Hotel And Club In Costa Rica, Cailin Sierra Dyer, Paris Riley Smith
Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
Sustainable agriculture is becoming an increasingly important method of food production. As human populations continue to grow, attendant food demand has been increasingly met via agribusiness, including monoculture crop production and factory farming. As is well documented, the rise of agribusiness has led to resource degradation and declining stocks on which “sustainable agriculture” relies. This paper describes a local attempt to re-establish “sustainable agriculture” through the development of an aquaculture system that mimics a naturally occurring cycle that integrates fish and plants. The system was constructed over a three-week period in Punta Leona, Costa Rica. First, the ground was cleared …
The Combined Effects Of Soil Fertility And Soil Amendments On The Growth And Mycorrhizal Associations Of American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius), Emily Ann Murray
The Combined Effects Of Soil Fertility And Soil Amendments On The Growth And Mycorrhizal Associations Of American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius), Emily Ann Murray
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are fungi that form symbiotic associations with 70-90% of plant families. They are known to allow for the extension of the root system as well as an increase in plant size by assisting with the uptake of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The role that AMF play in plant health and success has led to the development of commercial inoculum, which is used in agricultural settings. However, soil fertility, and soil amendments are known to affect AMF and plant associations. This study intends to look at how cultivated American Ginseng seedlings are affected by commercial …
Using Ancient Practices To Fix Modern Problems: The Effect Of Biochar On Einkorn Wheat And Soil Quality, Sarah L. Miller
Using Ancient Practices To Fix Modern Problems: The Effect Of Biochar On Einkorn Wheat And Soil Quality, Sarah L. Miller
Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
As farmland soils become more and more depleted, the importance of effective soil amendments grows. Biochar is a potential soil and carbon amendment that could improve water and nutrient holding capacity and foster growth of beneficial microbes and fungi. Biochar does not contain nutrients but acts like a sponge, absorbing nutrients around it. It is so effective at holding nutrients that in the first year, if applied alone, it can make the nutrients unavailable to plants and lowers crop yields. To get the best results biochar must be saturated, also referred to as inoculated or charged, with nutrients. Once the …
Coffee Carbon Stocks, Pest And Diseases Under Varied Shade Management: A Review, Anna E. Nordseth
Coffee Carbon Stocks, Pest And Diseases Under Varied Shade Management: A Review, Anna E. Nordseth
Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
Coffee agroforestry systems have received increased attention in recent decades because of their capacity to improve agricultural sustainability. Coffee (Coffea arabica), one of the most economically important crops, is widespread throughout the tropics and can have serious environmental impacts. To ensure sustainable coffee production, it is critical that coffee systems are maintained to maximize carbon storage and minimize susceptibility to pests and diseases. This study reviews the history of coffee production, from forested coffee systems to industrial coffee monocultures. We describe the five classifications for coffee systems, and use them as a framework to compare aboveground carbon stocks …
The Effect Of Cattle Management On Soil Carbon: Implications For Climate Change, Kelly M. Livernoche
The Effect Of Cattle Management On Soil Carbon: Implications For Climate Change, Kelly M. Livernoche
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
In naturally occurring ecosystems, forests function as substantial carbon sinks, storing carbon in soil and in biomass that would otherwise exist in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. The conversion of forested land to cattle pastures and their associated operational processes are noteworthy contributors to recent increases in global carbon emissions and subsequent climate change. However, appropriately managed cattle pastures have potential to be reservoirs for carbon. Rotational cattle pastures, where cattle are moved between enclosed sections of pasture, may improve soil carbon content compared to conventional practices. In rotational cattle pastures, a more even distribution of manure increases plant biomass, …
Insomniac Of The Soil: A Collection Of Poetry And Essays, Sarah E. Golibart
Insomniac Of The Soil: A Collection Of Poetry And Essays, Sarah E. Golibart
Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019
“Insomniac of the Soil” is a homage to a landscape that has deeply informed Sarah Golibart's life and her artistic voice – the tidewater flatlands of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay peninsula where her family lives and where Golibart has worked on farms since high school. Both her poems and essays are earthy, imagistic, and grounded – quite literally – in the soil as well as in a sensibility of ecological ethics and sustainability. “Insomniac of the Soil” is also a love song to the fervent and fallow cycles of the soil.
Sustainable Management Of The Main Two Maltese Indigenous Grape Varieties For Winemaking, Jonathan Falzon
Sustainable Management Of The Main Two Maltese Indigenous Grape Varieties For Winemaking, Jonathan Falzon
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
Ġellewża and Girgentina, the main two Maltese indigenous grape varieties that are used for winemaking, are grown in small parcels of land with an average size just over 0.1 ha. Policies and regulations that influence the sector have been set up and this increased the need for studies to understand the current management practices and how can they be more sustainable. Through interviews with 30 growers of the indigenous grape varieties it was found that most vines are trained as bush vines and cane pruned with 2 or 3 canes with about 5 to 10 buds in each. Nutrition is …
A Board Game Simulator For Promoting System Thinking For Sustainable Pastoralism Among Maasai In Southern Kenya, Jacob Loorimirim Mayiani
A Board Game Simulator For Promoting System Thinking For Sustainable Pastoralism Among Maasai In Southern Kenya, Jacob Loorimirim Mayiani
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
A culturally-anchored board game simulator named ERAMAT! was created in cooperation with faculty members and members of the Maasai community and then piloted with US students and members of Maasai communities in southern Kenya during the summer of 2012. The game provides an alternative to a computer-based simulator, and hence provides a culturally credible simulation of the system dynamics associated with an accelerating boom/bust cycle of drought and hunger in the region. Factors driving the phenomena include greatly increased population densities, pastoralist cultural values, evolving pastoral practices, the ebb and flow of the semi-arid environment in which Maasai pastoralists live, …
Analyzing Land-Cover Change Within North West Rural Landscapes, Chantal Cassar
Analyzing Land-Cover Change Within North West Rural Landscapes, Chantal Cassar
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
Landscape change is an issue of concern within the Maltese Islands; records of landscape change go back at least 450 years, and the rate of change has been particularly accelerated in recent decades. Notwithstanding the importance of this phenomenon, there have been few attempts to trace out patterns of landscape change over time. This study seeks to develop an understanding of landscape change within rural landscapes, over a period of 400 years. A qualitative analytical approach was used with a focus on five case study rural settlements in the North West of Malta. Land surveys and historic documentary sources together …
A Technology Assessment Of On-Farm Renewable Energy Carbon Mitigation Strategies, Laura Kossey
A Technology Assessment Of On-Farm Renewable Energy Carbon Mitigation Strategies, Laura Kossey
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
This project explores whether the Shenandoah Valley can achieve its 25x.25 (25% from renewable energies by 2025) goals on farms in the agricultural sector. Solar photovoltaic electric power production was assessed to be the most feasible renewable energy technology for such farms. After a review of the barriers to the adoption of renewable energy by agricultural operations, estimations of the potential rates of adoption and energy output using US data from the US Census of Agriculture were calculated. Multiple scenarios were explored, including the ¡°maximum theoretical¡± contribution of renewable energy to the agricultural sector as well as scenarios of farm …
Spatial And Temporal Diffusion Of Agricultural Best Management Practice Adoption In The South Fork Shenandoah River Watershed., Megan Renee Bauer
Spatial And Temporal Diffusion Of Agricultural Best Management Practice Adoption In The South Fork Shenandoah River Watershed., Megan Renee Bauer
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
This research visualizes, describes, and analyzes the unique spatial and temporal diffusion of agricultural best management practices adopted within the South Fork Shenandoah River Watershed during the twenty year period from 1989 to 2008. The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, which in turn flows directly into the Chesapeake Bay. The findings and research presented here could aid policy makers, conservation technicians, and Soil and Water Conservation District agents to better plan promotions and funding for cost share BMPs. This research identifies motivations and influential forces that are inherent in the BMPs, in the social system, and …
A Poultry All-Hazard Threat, Vulnerability, And Capability Assessment With Rockingham County Fire Rescue., Daniel Robert Dales
A Poultry All-Hazard Threat, Vulnerability, And Capability Assessment With Rockingham County Fire Rescue., Daniel Robert Dales
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
Agriculture is argued to be one of our most critical infrastructures and is vital to human health and survivability. Agriculture is economically important in Virginia as it provides over 350,000 jobs and generates $55 billion annually (Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services). This high criticality lends to significant areas of vulnerability in each sector of agriculture. Rockingham County is of particular importance as the top agriculturally producing county in the state and is ranked 5th in the nation for poultry sales (2007 Census of Agriculture). The desire to uphold this high production calls for a need to better understand …
From Seed To Harvest: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Conventional Vs. Organic Cotton Agriculture, Rebecca Hoehn
From Seed To Harvest: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Conventional Vs. Organic Cotton Agriculture, Rebecca Hoehn
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
Conventional and organic cotton farming practices both have benefits and detriments to each type. Cotton agriculture is responsible for the use of a third of the agriculture industries’ pesticide use. In order to help alleviate the use of pesticide dependency the following study reviews the use of pesticides as well as other stressors of both systems and hopes to decide how sustainable agriculture in the cotton industry can be attained. Evaluations of both systems have been compared in order to reach the decisions of sustainability.
The Role Of Quality Labels In Farming Diversification And Rural Development, Eman Vella
The Role Of Quality Labels In Farming Diversification And Rural Development, Eman Vella
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
The European Union promotes marketing of quality food products through a quality labelling scheme having three labels known as PDO, PGI and TSG. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) are two labels that protect products with an association to a particular region. Such products need to have a traditional link with the area as well as unique attributes (known as specifications) that make the product different from the customary. PDO labels designate a product that is linked with an area in every aspect, while PGI labels indicate that the product has a unique geographical link in …
Sustainable Agricultural Management And Landscaping Through Agroforestry And Permaculture Case Study: Northern Malta, Shawn Sammy Vella
Sustainable Agricultural Management And Landscaping Through Agroforestry And Permaculture Case Study: Northern Malta, Shawn Sammy Vella
Masters Theses, 2010-2019
The farming industry in Malta is facing severe challenges. Many small patches of arable land are being abandoned following land use conflicts and competition from foreign agricultural products. This reduces the economic capacity of the farming industry which leads to soil erosion and land degradation. On the other hand, the remaining land is being intensively farmed with the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Local government following EU regulations is trying to change this trend by aiming more at promoting a sustainable future for this industry in Malta whilst preserving the natural environments, but still many farmers choose not to …