UMD Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3

New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a given thesis/dissertation in DRUM.

More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.

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    DESIGNING AN ACCESSIBLE AGRICULTURAL GARDEN: CONNECTING SOLIDARITY & AGROECOLOGY
    (2024) Boyle, Patrick Robert; Ruggeri, Deni; Plant Science and Landscape Architecture (PSLA); Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This thesis explores the potential of agroecology as a transformative framework for guiding the transition of Bergamo's agricultural landscape toward sustainability, resilience, and community well-being. Grounded in the evolution of agroecology from farm-scale design to regional planning, the research investigates how this approach can integrate ecological methodologies and participatory action research in design to implement sustainable farming practices, rehabilitate landscapes, and cultivate solidarity-driven producer-consumer relationships. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of ecology, economy, and society, the study addresses whether agroecology can shape a district into a resilient landscape that enhances people's lives and promotes health and well-being.Through an interdisciplinary lens, the thesis also delves into the broader concept of landscape, highlighting its role in social well-being and advocating for the protection and responsible management of landscapes as a fundamental human right. It explores the principles of landscape democracy and solidarity, aiming to empower communities to reconnect with their environments and promote ecological restoration through collective action and ethical practices. Ultimately, the research strives to contribute to the discourse on agroecology and landscape planning, offering proposals and strategies for actionable change in regenerative and organic agricultural systems that prioritize the needs and values of local communities.
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    Can Cover Crop Residues Suppress Pests and Improve Yield in Eggplant?
    (2018) Coffey, Peter Lawson; Hooks, Cerruti RR; Entomology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Field studies were conducted over three growing seasons to investigate the effects of planting eggplant following three winter cover crop treatments on the abundance, predation, and colonization of Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) and flea beetle (Epitrix spp.) abundance. Colorado potato beetle densities were observed to be significantly higher in the early season, and lower in the mid- and late- season when eggplant was planted into a crimson clover residue, compared with a crimson clover – rye mixture or bare ground control. Flea beetle abundance was significantly higher in treatments planted with a winter cover crop. Seedbed preparation treatments for weed control did not significantly affect pest abundance. These results contrast with previous research, raising new questions about how cover crop mixtures interact with pests, and how suppression methods influence the effects cover crops have on arthropod populations.