R-Programming
Joseph Tamale
Soil Biogeochemist
Lira, Uganda
Summary
I am a meticulous Soil Biogeochemist with over a decade-long working experience in tropical Africa bordering on supporting and leading scientific efforts aimed at not only improving the productivity of the tropical soil resources but also their sustainable management. Doing soil fertility and climate change-related research is at the core of my day-to-day professional life. As a team, we evaluate, for instance, how nutrient limitations, drought, climatic extremes (drought), land-use change affect soil greenhouse gas, and nutrient leaching fluxes from tropical forests and agroecosystems in order to inform policy discourse on the appropriate climate mitigation actions for the East(African) region. I am a proficient user of geospatial (Arc GIS, QGIS) and statistical programming tools (R) for data analysis and a prolific communicator of scientific findings through publications and conferences.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
Research Officer- Soil Fertility
National Agricultural Research Organization
Lira
12.2016 - Current
- Identify soil fertility problems and local knowledge used to manage the problems in targeted areas.
- Planning, designing, implementing and evaluating soil fertility management technologies according to technical appropriateness, suitability and applicability to farmers' conditions.
- Conducting research studies on better management aspects of different soils depending on their characteristics, for improved crop yields.
- Directing research in soil nutrient availability studies for crop growth, determining crop growth limitations relating to nutrition and developing their mitigation measures.
- Develop audio-visual and scientific communication materials for soil and water management.
- Use experience to develop extension materials in collaboration with other specialists and outreach/extension agents.
Doctoral Researcher-Soil Biogeochemistry
University of Augsburg
Augsburg
10.2018 - 05.2023
- Established ecosystem-scale nutrient manipulation experiements in a native tropical forest and large-scale sugarcane plantations.
- Measured soil greenhouse gas fluxes (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) from tropical forests and sugarcane plantations using static vented chambers.
- Estimated nitrate leaching losses using measured nitrogen concentrations by suction cup lysimeters and modelled drainage fluxes.
- Supervised one Masters student dissertations.
Pedologist
National Agricultural Research Laboratories-Kawanda
Kampala
10.2014 - 12.2017
- Gained experience in delineation of soil base units based on geomorphology, land use, topography, and geology.
- Gained extensive knowledge and skills in describing soils in the field using FAO guidelines for soil descriptions and subsequent classification using World Reference Base for Soil Resources.
Professional Agriculture Advisory Service Provider
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries
Nakasongola
01.2011 - 09.2012
- Advised and provided information, knowledge and skills to farmers on improved methods of farming, marketing, trading activities, input supply, storage, product processing, mobilization of resources including access to credit.
- Reported to sub county farmer forum executive committee on the performance of agriculture in general and performance of farmer groups in their areas of operation.
- Arranged and performed advisory adaptive research and development of supportive services in response to farmers' demands.
- Selected and evaluated techniques for sustainable water harvesting and conservation to increase water productivity while minimizing environmental risks.
Education
Ph.D. - Physical Geography (Soil Biogeochemistry)
University of Augsburg
Augsburg, Germany 10.2018 - 05.2023
Master of Science - Physical Land Resources (Soils Major)
Ghent University
Gent, Belgium 09.2012 - 09.2014
Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Land Use And Management
Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda 08.2007 - 01.2011
Skills
Experimental Design and Statistical Data Analysis
undefinedAccomplishments
I have won research funding to a tune of 100,000 USD.
I have published three research articles in high ranking peer reviewed journals namely:
1. Tamale, J., van Straaten, O., Hüppi, R., Turyagyenda, L.F., Fiener, P. and Doetterl, S. 2022. Soil greenhouse gas fluxes following conversion of tropical forests to fertilizer-based sugarcane systems in northwestern Uganda. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 333, p.107953.
2. Tamale, J., Hüppi, R., Griepentrog, M., Turyagyenda, L. F., Barthel, M., Doetterl, S., Fiener, P., and van Straaten, O. 2021. Nutrient limitations regulate soil greenhouse gas fluxes from tropical forests: evidence from an ecosystem-scale nutrient manipulation experiment in Uganda. SOIL, 7, 433–451.
3. Broeckx, J., Maertens, M., Isabirye, M., Vanmaercke, M., Namazzi, B., Deckers, J., Tamale, J., Jacobs, L., Thiery, W., Kervyn, M. and Vranken, L. 2019. Landslide susceptibility and mobilization rates in the Mount Elgon region, Uganda. Landslides, 16, 571-584.
Affiliations
Reviewer of Geoderma Regional Journal (2021-Current).
Early Career Reviewer for Biogeochemistry Journal (2021-Current).
Member of European Geoscience Union (2020-Current).
Software
Hydrus 1D
LEACHM
QGIS/ARC GIS
IPCC GHG Inventory
ALU GHG Inventory
Timeline
Doctoral Researcher-Soil Biogeochemistry
University of Augsburg
10.2018 - 05.2023
Ph.D. - Physical Geography (Soil Biogeochemistry)
University of Augsburg
10.2018 - 05.2023
Research Officer- Soil Fertility
National Agricultural Research Organization
12.2016 - Current
Pedologist
National Agricultural Research Laboratories-Kawanda
10.2014 - 12.2017
Master of Science - Physical Land Resources (Soils Major)
Ghent University
09.2012 - 09.2014
Professional Agriculture Advisory Service Provider
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries
01.2011 - 09.2012
Bachelor of Science - Agricultural Land Use And Management
Makerere University
08.2007 - 01.2011
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