MANAGING THE SOIL

Dr Lisa Myers Morga

When the farmers of Jamaica need help, they call on Dr Lisa Myers Morgan. In 1988, Lisa started her journey while attending the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus and received her BSc in Biochemistry and Botany.

While pursuing her Masters, Lisa attended el Instituto de Fitosanidad del Colegio de Postgraduados in Mexico where she received training in research methodologies in Plant Virology.  

She did several courses with the IDB INDES and CREFAL Mexico and obtained her certification in Agriculture Policy for the Caribbean and Latin America.

She received her Master of Philosophy in Botany, focusing on the etiology of insect-vectored plant viruses in Capsicum ( hot pepper) species.

She was among the first to receive the Doctor of Plant Medicine (DPM) from the University of Florida, Gainsville campus, USA.

Through her dedication and skills, Lisa reached the position of Principal Research Director for the Jamaica Ministry of Agriculture, and Fisheries.

She led the development and implementation of the National Agriculture Research programme.  She was the programme manager for the operations of the Division and five agriculture research stations across Jamaica with a staff of 177.

Her dedication to excellence and best practices has significantly impacted the over 250,000 farmers in Jamaica.

Her role in overseeing the executive managerial leadership, technical development, and coordination of implementing the National Agriculture Research and Development Programme has been crucial in advancing the country’s agricultural sector.

Dr Myers Morgan has also served on regional projects for Latin America and the Caribbean. Working with agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the FAO in addressing regional concerns on food security and crop protection from invasive pest species.

By ensuring that research priorities align with the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and regional partners, in this former position, she had played a pivotal role in driving innovation and progress in the Jamaican and Caribbean farming communities.

Not only has Dr Myers Morgan excelled in her professional endeavours, but she has also demonstrated a deep and genuine care for the rural farming community in Jamaica.

Her involvement In  nonprofits such as Kevoy Community Development Institute as a board director, lecturing at community colleges and universities, and participation in her church  reflect her commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those she serves.

Through her FARM Research and  Policy Business, and as an ECO Parks board member, she is spearheading the research studies and application development of regenerative and precision farming methods through the ECO Parks initiative.

Her commitment is to guiding the development of integrated crop management programmes.

Her  focus on crop health through  nutrition, incorporating organic based fertilizers and other biologically based inputs that produce yields comparable to synthetic fertilizers is unwavering.

Lisa is committed to the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices that benefit both the environment and the farming community.

Her expertise In the area of plant health and the  epidemiology and management of insect-vectored plant pathogens has furthered our understanding of plant health and disease management, ultimately improving agricultural productivity and food security while faced with climate change challenges.

Dr Lisa Myers Morgan’s work is a testament to her unwavering commitment to advancing agriculture, promoting sustainable practices, and supporting rural communities.

Her contributions have been invaluable, and her legacy continues to inspire current and future generations of agricultural researchers and practitioners.

Understanding Types of Soil and Plant Growth

Plants grow from the Photosynthesis process; light energy is converted to chemical energy into sugars. Glucose molecules are created from water and carbon dioxide, with oxygen created as a byproduct. At night, the Photosynthesis process stops, but oxygen respiration continues at a reduced rate.

In the soil ecosystem, the hairs on the root system absorb the electrically charged nutrient ions produced from the microorganism decomposition of biomatter in the soil. Microbe-generated ions are a slow-release process from microbes converting bio matter in the soil to different ions.

Synthetic fertilizers quickly release ions in the soil when chemicals are mixed with water: ammonium, NH4+, nitrate ions, and NO3 are soluble nitrogen sources. Phosphate ions, PO43-, are a source of soluble phosphorus. All common potassium compounds dissolve in water to produce potassium ions, K.

The major difference between the two processes is that the organic process has a long life, a slow process, while the synthetic process is a fast process with a short life in the soil. Most nitrous oxide arises from soils through the biological pathways of nitrification and denitrification.

Nitrification is performed by aerobic, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), which produce nitrates from ammonium and some nitrous oxide in the soil during this process. Synthetic fertilizers release the ions faster than plants can absorb.

While there have been many advantages to synthetic fertilizer use, they have essentially been overused, partly because research results frequently overestimated the benefits of synthetic fertilizer by failing to contrast performance against alternative biological sources. 

Given the fast dissipation of synthetic fertilizers, some farmers overuse synthetic fertilizers, causing excessive release of nitrous oxide. Seventeen different nutrients are essential for plants, each with a specific function.

Three of these elements come from the water and air, while the remaining elements are taken from the soil. Plant roots absorb nutrients to be used in plant functions.

 The United States has ten different soil types, Canada has 11, and Jamaica has 176. In the soil ecosystem, root hairs absorb nutrient ions from microorganism decomposition of biomatter, while synthetic fertilizers quickly release ions into the soil. This contrast results in the overuse of synthetic fertilizers, causing excessive nitrous oxide release.