TropSoils : administrative report, 1981-1986

During its inaugural 5-year period, TropSoils has made recognized achievements that are consistent with the spirit and intent of the Title XII legislation under the U.S. foreign assistance program. The Tropsoils leadersip has been provided by the administrations and research faculty of Cornell University, the University of Hawaii, North Carolina State University, and Texas A&M University, and by the national agricultural research institutions in Brazil, Indonesia, Mali, Niger and Peru. Base funding was provided by A.I.D., but major support was provided, also, by the universities and the collaborating national institutions. The framework of the program and initiatives undertaken has resulted in an extensive collaborative effort involving 343 scientists and support personnel from 53 institutions in 30 countries. Because of their association with the research program, 80 people from 26 countries have received advanced training and first-hand experience. This training will enable them to identify soil-management problems, conduct research, and provide effective leadership in developing countries. The evidence obtained by TropSoils scientists confirms that many of the basic principles established through work with soils in temperate regions apply also to those in the tropics. Results from soil management practices based on these principles provide information to predict with reasonable accuracy the outcome of practices at other locations and under other conditions. This report presents 30 brief descriptions of major TropSoils technical and research achievements during the 5-year period. Many of these illustrate the ways in which established soil-management principles and new information can be applied for the practical solution of on-farm problems in developing countries. (Author abstract)