Education :
Ph.D., 1983, Cornell University ( Agronomy/Crop Science)
MS, 1979, Cornell University (Agronomy/Crop Science)
BSc (Agr), 1976, McGill University (Plant Science/Agronomy)
BA, 1970, Goshen (College Biology)

Professional Experience:
1996 : Associate Professor, Auburn University
1990 : Assistant Professor, Auburn University
1985 : Scientist/Agronomist, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Congo
1983 : Junior Scientist/Grain Legume Agronomist International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria

Professional Activities:
Brief description of research program and goals
My current research, which I began in 2006, focuses on medicinal crops as potential new cash crops for Alabama. The goal is to identify species that are adapted to Alabama with market potential and determine cropping practices and varieties that enhance the quantity and yield of bioactive compounds. Current species of interest include American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), Baikal skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus).

Prior research focused on alley cropping, an agroforestry system in which annual crops are grown between rows of closely-planted trees. My research addresses issues related to application of the technology under different tropical and subtropical environments. In Alabama, we assessed alley cropping as a cost-effective alternative to conventional terraces for soil and water conservation on sloping land, measuring runoff, sediment and nutrient losses and crop yield. We also examined the effects of hedgerow pruning regime on competition for water, light and nutrients in maize grown in the alleys. In a semi-arid region of Brazil, we tested alley cropping with hedgerows of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) for low-resource farmers. The goal was to sustain and increase maize yields through application of N-rich leucaena leaves as mulch. Specific objectives included assessment of the suitability of alley cropping and leucaena in the context of the harsh dry season (6-8 month) and to assess the need for supplemental fertilizer, lime and tillage to increase yield of maize, improve rooting depth, and therefore drought tolerance, and also improve dry season survival of Panicum maximum grass, used as fodder for cattle. Research was carried out on alley cropping for more than ten years in Haiti. We assessed over 35 hedgerow species under a range of environmental conditions (rainfall, elevation, temperature, soils), compared alley cropping with other soil conservation barriers, and assessed hedgerow management practices in alley cropping. We studied N cycling and P and K fertility in relation to alley cropping, and N, P and K release rates from decomposing leaves of tree hedgerows. Two trials were conducted for 14 or more seasons of continuous cropping, giving us long-term data that is available for only a few alley cropping sites around the world. This research is enabling us to develop comprehensive recommendations on alley cropping for Haiti and similar environments.

Brief description of outreach program and goals
Current outreach activities focus on providing support for medicinal plant growers in Alabama. In 2008, I teamed up with researchers at Alabama A&M University and other interested individuals to organize a workshop on medicinal plants and mushrooms, which we hope will lead to development of a medicinal plant growers association in Alabama. I also coordinate efforts to develop a distance education graduate degree program Agronomy and Soils, which will enhance outreach in the department to clients in Alabama and beyond.

The goal of my international outreach is to increase productivity and sustainability of agricultural production through agronomic research and technical assistance. I provided assistance to farmer groups associated with the Christian Children's Fund in the Jequitinhonha Valley in Minas Girais State, Brazil. Alley cropping was introduced to reduce runoff and soil erosion losses from sloping lands, as well as sustain crop production. Outreach was carried out in Haiti, including alley cropping research as part of the Soil Management Collaborative Research Support Program (TropSoils), and agronomic research and technical support to USAID and World Bank projects. For 10 years, I provided leadership for technical assistance to USAID's Productive Land Use Systems Project, and was responsible for agronomic, agroforestry, tree improvement nd marketing research. I have also had small activities in Vietnam, West Africa and Kenya. Prior to coming to Auburn, I provided research support to the Ministry of Agriculture in Congo and carried out grain legume research in Nigeria.