Professor Charles S. Wortmann

Professor Charles Wortmann has worked for over 20 years in Africa, as an independent consultant and 18 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) as a cropping system/soil management research and extension specialist (www.agronomy.unl.edu-Wortmann). While at UNL, he continued with collaborative work in >15 African countries including Nigeria. He has advised 53 graduate students, hosted numerous African visiting scientists, and initiated the ASA-Global Agronomy-Agronomy in Africa community. His 143 refereed journal publications include 78 from work in Africa, most with an African researcher as the lead author and aimed at improving more profitable production by smallholders. Other substantial works have included atlases of bean and sorghum production in Africa and fertilizer use decision tools for >70 AEZ. Extension activities in US and Africa have addressed various aspects soil management for improved soil water and nutrient availability for rainfed and irrigated productivity while improving land resources and profitability with environmental protection, including reduced CO2e emission. He addresses climate resiliency with proactive and reactive management practices. Recent extension publications address agronomic management to reduce N2O emission and leaching of nitrate to aquifers. Human and institutional capacity building have been an on-going career priority of work in Africa. In addition to advising students at UNL, he unofficially advised numerous graduate students enrolled in African universities who had good subsequent success in publication and career advancement. He is interested to mentor graduate students focused on crop or soil management for sustainable intensification with climate resiliency and enhancing the land resource base.