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Supply and synchronization of plant-available nitrogen (N) to the soil is a major challenge for organic farmers, especially when growing crops in soils that are in transition from conventional to organic systems. This research evaluated the effects of site produced cover crops and application of soil amendments on N uptake and crop yield of organic Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum) and sweet corn (Zea mays). Cover crops were crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) and forage radish (Raphanus sativus). Soil amendments included in-row application of commercially produced dehydrated compost tea absorbed on charcoal (Soil Biology Innovations) and post-plant sidedressing with organic N fertilizer. Irish potato and sweet corn were grown at the Kentland Agricultural Research Farm near Blacksburg, VA in an organic transition soil during the summers of 2006 and 2007. Nitrogen uptake and crop yield were not affected by cover crop species in either year. SBI increased yield of sweet corn, but not Irish potato for both years; SBI had no effect on N uptake of either crop. Post-plant N sidedressing increased N uptake and crop yield of Irish potato and sweet corn in 2007, but had no effect on crop yield in 2006, presumably because pre-plant organic fertilizer was applied at planting in 2006, but not in 2007. This study shows that the combination of site produced cover crops and applied soil amendments may be required to produce high marketable yields of organic Irish potato and sweet corn in the transition soil used in these experiments. / Master of Science

Historical evidence from contemporary documents established that Irish migrants to London during the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852) were likely to come from low socio-economic groups in south-west Ireland, and has characterised mid-19th-century health status and living conditions in both locations. Using samples from 119 individuals from the Catholic cemetery at Lukin Street, London (1843-1854) and 20 from the Union Workhouse Famine cemetery, Kilkenny, Ireland (1847-51), mean bone collagen isotope values were established for the well-documented Irish pre-Famine potato-based diet (¿15N 10.6¿, ¿13C -19.1¿), and the diet of contemporaneous Londoners (¿15N 12.6¿, ¿13C -19.1¿). The introduction of maize as a short-term Famine relief food was identified in three Kilkenny juveniles with bone collagen ¿13C above -17¿, and incremental dentine collagen demonstrating temporal changes in ¿13C consistent with dietary change from C3 to C4 plants. Bone collagen values for two Lukin Street individuals were consistent with high marine protein consumption. Techniques developed in this study to sample increments of dentine representing nine months or less of life have improved temporal resolution not only for migration events but also short-term dietary changes and physiological status during childhood. Combining epigraphic, osteological and archaeological evidence, individual ¿lifeways¿ have been constructed using isotope data and provide insights into the connection between health, diet and skeletal manifestations of deprivation during childhood and adolescence. New models are investigated for examining maternal and infant health using dentine collagen increments formed in utero and combining dentine and bone collagen values to explore the effects of nutritional stress on bone turnover. / Arts and Humanities Council. The British Federation of Women Graduates (the Eila Campbell scholarship). The British Association for Biological, Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (the Jane Moore prize).

Historical evidence from contemporary documents established that Irish migrants to London during the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852) were likely to come from low socio-economic groups in south-west Ireland, and has characterised mid-19th-century health status and living conditions in both locations. Using samples from 119 individuals from the Catholic cemetery at Lukin Street, London (1843-1854) and 20 from the Union Workhouse Famine cemetery, Kilkenny, Ireland (1847-51), mean bone collagen isotope values were established for the well-documented Irish pre-Famine potato-based diet (δ¹⁵N 10.6‰, δ¹³C -19.1‰), and the diet of contemporaneous Londoners (δ¹⁵N 12.6‰, δ¹³C -19.1‰). The introduction of maize as a short-term Famine relief food was identified in three Kilkenny juveniles with bone collagen δ¹³C above -17‰, and incremental dentine collagen demonstrating temporal changes in δ¹³C consistent with dietary change from C3 to C4 plants. Bone collagen values for two Lukin Street individuals were consistent with high marine protein consumption. Techniques developed in this study to sample increments of dentine representing nine months or less of life have improved temporal resolution not only for migration events but also short-term dietary changes and physiological status during childhood. Combining epigraphic, osteological and archaeological evidence, individual 'lifeways' have been constructed using isotope data and provide insights into the connection between health, diet and skeletal manifestations of deprivation during childhood and adolescence. New models are investigated for examining maternal and infant health using dentine collagen increments formed in utero and combining dentine and bone collagen values to explore the effects of nutritional stress on bone turnover.