title: Soil carbon stocks under fencelines and adjacent paddocks to test the importance of dung returns

authors: Hay, Holly

subjects: carbon stocks

abstract: Soils are the largest terrestrial store of carbon (C), but agriculture has depleted around 133 Pg C from the upper 2 m of soil, contributing to increases in atmospheric CO2. Soil C sequestration can help offset these atmospheric increases and is determined by the balance between C inputs and C outputs.
New Zealand’s temperate climate supports year-round grazing on approximately one-third of the country’s land area. The conversion of New Zealand’s native forests to pastures increased soil C stocks, yet the mechanisms behind this increase remain unclear. Grazing animals influence the C cycle through the consumption of C embodied within the feed they eat, with excreta returning C to the soil. Although C balances of New Zealand pastures suggest excreta is an important return of C to the soil, this has been poorly quantified. 
The objectives of this thesis were to determine if soil C stocks (0–0.6m) differed between paddock and fenceline areas, assuming the paddock received more dung input. To test this assumption, the spatial distribution of dung in relation to the fenceline was mapped, and dung loading was estimated. Stocks of particulate organic matter C (POM-C) and mineral-associated organic matter C (MAOM-C) were also determined in the top 0.1 m of soil to understand which forms of C contributed to any measured differences in total C stocks. Differences in Olsen P and pH were also determined. 
Paddock and fenceline sites (38 pairs) distributed across six farms in the Waikato region were sampled to a depth of 0.6 m. On average, soil C and N stocks were 10.3 t C ha−1 (P = .002) and 0.96 t N ha−1 (P = .002) higher in paddock areas when compared to fenceline areas. When excluding one paired site with a very poor match of mineral surface area, the differences decreased to 9.3 t C ha−1 (P = .004) and 0.86 t N ha−1 (P = .003). The greatest differences were observed in the 0–0.1 m depth increment. At the 0–0.1 m depth increment, POM-C was significantly greater in paddock samples and largely accounted for the observed difference in total soil C. This suggested that the observed C stock increase was in a more degradable fraction, implying that decreases in dung returns could result in rapid soil C loss. There was no relationship between the age of the fenceline and C stock differences, indicating that differences may have occurred rapidly to a new steady state.
Mapping of 2000+ dug pats showed that paddocks received more dung, with only one pat being within the fenceline sampling zone. The average dung density was 0.2 pats m−2 and a dung-C loading rate of 1.1 t C ha−1 y−1 was calculated.
The detected differences in C stocks due to varying dung input aligned with other studies on cattle manure’s influence on soil C, POM-C and MAOM-C stocks. Further research is needed to better understand the contribution of dung returns to soil C and its potential vulnerability to loss.

text: Soil carbon stocks under fencelines and adjacent paddocks to test the importance of dung returns Soils are the largest terrestrial store of carbon (C), but agriculture has depleted around 133 Pg C from the upper 2 m of soil, contributing to increases in atmospheric CO2. Soil C sequestration can help offset these atmospheric increases and is determined by the balance between C inputs and C outputs.
New Zealand’s temperate climate supports year-round grazing on approximately one-third of the country’s land area. The conversion of New Zealand’s native forests to pastures increased soil C stocks, yet the mechanisms behind this increase remain unclear. Grazing animals influence the C cycle through the consumption of C embodied within the feed they eat, with excreta returning C to the soil. Although C balances of New Zealand pastures suggest excreta is an important return of C to the soil, this has been poorly quantified. 
The objectives of this thesis were to determine if soil C stocks (0–0.6m) differed between paddock and fenceline areas, assuming the paddock received more dung input. To test this assumption, the spatial distribution of dung in relation to the fenceline was mapped, and dung loading was estimated. Stocks of particulate organic matter C (POM-C) and mineral-associated organic matter C (MAOM-C) were also determined in the top 0.1 m of soil to understand which forms of C contributed to any measured differences in total C stocks. Differences in Olsen P and pH were also determined. 
Paddock and fenceline sites (38 pairs) distributed across six farms in the Waikato region were sampled to a depth of 0.6 m. On average, soil C and N stocks were 10.3 t C ha−1 (P = .002) and 0.96 t N ha−1 (P = .002) higher in paddock areas when compared to fenceline areas. When excluding one paired site with a very poor match of mineral surface area, the differences decreased to 9.3 t C ha−1 (P = .004) and 0.86 t N ha−1 (P = .003). The greatest differences were observed in the 0–0.1 m depth increment. At the 0–0.1 m depth increment, POM-C was significantly greater in paddock samples and largely accounted for the observed difference in total soil C. This suggested that the observed C stock increase was in a more degradable fraction, implying that decreases in dung returns could result in rapid soil C loss. There was no relationship between the age of the fenceline and C stock differences, indicating that differences may have occurred rapidly to a new steady state.
Mapping of 2000+ dug pats showed that paddocks received more dung, with only one pat being within the fenceline sampling zone. The average dung density was 0.2 pats m−2 and a dung-C loading rate of 1.1 t C ha−1 y−1 was calculated.
The detected differences in C stocks due to varying dung input aligned with other studies on cattle manure’s influence on soil C, POM-C and MAOM-C stocks. Further research is needed to better understand the contribution of dung returns to soil C and its potential vulnerability to loss.

year: 2024

title: Entrepreneurial Action: Community and Buddhism contexts in Sri Lanka

authors: Dissanayake Mudiyanselage, Neelacksha
Srinath Wasala

subjects: Entrepreneurial action

abstract: Entrepreneurship research has long focused on singular views – the psychological traits, behaviour and opportunity approaches. These single-focus approaches limit the potential to understand entrepreneurship more fully and there are calls to move towards a more integrated view of entrepreneurship that includes context. This thesis supports a broader integration arguing that entrepreneurial action occurs through the interaction between community and religious contexts. This central argument embraces three notions. First, entrepreneurship involves a series of entrepreneurial actions. Second, entrepreneurial action interacts with the context, and third, entrepreneurial action requires agency.

The overarching research question for this study is: “How do community and Buddhism interact with entrepreneurial action?” Using the philosophical position of critical realism and the case study approach as the research strategy to theorise entrepreneurial action, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Buddhist entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.

Findings revealed that the actions of an emergent venture flow through two discrete phases: pre-launch and post-launch. The entrepreneurial action themes that emerged in the pre-launch phase were entrepreneurial intention and resourcing, whereas, in this study, the post-launch phase extended beyond the venture to include community vitality. The two types of communities – family and social  interacted with entrepreneurs enabling and constraining their pre-launch actions. The interaction of the enabling and constraining roles of communities created tension for entrepreneurs when realising their venturing aspirations. Entrepreneurs’ religious background – that of Buddhism – guided them to eliminate the tensions imposed by communities. Discernment, right livelihood, and determination are considered the essential Buddhist tenets in this relationship. During the post-launch phase, communities were impacted by entrepreneurial actions. Making positive contributions to improve communities was an objective during the post-launch phase. This objective translated into different altruistic acts that improved community vitality. Serving communities offered excellent potential to improve the economic, social and natural environmental vitalities of those communities. These post-launch entrepreneurial actions were informed by the compassionate dimension of Buddhism.

These findings contribute to the entrepreneurial action literature by integrating the concepts involved within the intricacies of community and Buddhism contexts together to more fully inform entrepreneurial action. This study extends the understanding of entrepreneurial action by presenting it as process that incorporates a) pre- and post-launch actions, b) entrepreneurial action and context, c) the definition of community, d) the Buddhist tenets relevant to entrepreneurial actions, and e) entrepreneurial agency. Policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs, and community members can benefit from the findings of this study as it highlights the mechanisms of entrepreneurial action in a Buddhist context.

text: Entrepreneurial Action: Community and Buddhism contexts in Sri Lanka Entrepreneurship research has long focused on singular views – the psychological traits, behaviour and opportunity approaches. These single-focus approaches limit the potential to understand entrepreneurship more fully and there are calls to move towards a more integrated view of entrepreneurship that includes context. This thesis supports a broader integration arguing that entrepreneurial action occurs through the interaction between community and religious contexts. This central argument embraces three notions. First, entrepreneurship involves a series of entrepreneurial actions. Second, entrepreneurial action interacts with the context, and third, entrepreneurial action requires agency.

The overarching research question for this study is: “How do community and Buddhism interact with entrepreneurial action?” Using the philosophical position of critical realism and the case study approach as the research strategy to theorise entrepreneurial action, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Buddhist entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.

Findings revealed that the actions of an emergent venture flow through two discrete phases: pre-launch and post-launch. The entrepreneurial action themes that emerged in the pre-launch phase were entrepreneurial intention and resourcing, whereas, in this study, the post-launch phase extended beyond the venture to include community vitality. The two types of communities – family and social  interacted with entrepreneurs enabling and constraining their pre-launch actions. The interaction of the enabling and constraining roles of communities created tension for entrepreneurs when realising their venturing aspirations. Entrepreneurs’ religious background – that of Buddhism – guided them to eliminate the tensions imposed by communities. Discernment, right livelihood, and determination are considered the essential Buddhist tenets in this relationship. During the post-launch phase, communities were impacted by entrepreneurial actions. Making positive contributions to improve communities was an objective during the post-launch phase. This objective translated into different altruistic acts that improved community vitality. Serving communities offered excellent potential to improve the economic, social and natural environmental vitalities of those communities. These post-launch entrepreneurial actions were informed by the compassionate dimension of Buddhism.

These findings contribute to the entrepreneurial action literature by integrating the concepts involved within the intricacies of community and Buddhism contexts together to more fully inform entrepreneurial action. This study extends the understanding of entrepreneurial action by presenting it as process that incorporates a) pre- and post-launch actions, b) entrepreneurial action and context, c) the definition of community, d) the Buddhist tenets relevant to entrepreneurial actions, and e) entrepreneurial agency. Policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs, and community members can benefit from the findings of this study as it highlights the mechanisms of entrepreneurial action in a Buddhist context.

year: 2021

title: Mai ngā pouwhirinaki - The experiences of whānau caring for Māori tangata whaiora with traumatic brain injury in the Waikato

authors: Silveira, Maia

subjects: Traumatic brain injury

abstract: In Aotearoa today, Māori have a disproportionate experience of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the community and in prisons compared to non-Māori. Furthermore, Māori have higher mortality rates following TBI, and are more likely to have a prolonged stay in hospital then be discharged without community support services compared with non-Māori. Currently, many of the post-acute rehabilitation services are located in the Auckland region which causes undue pressure of whānau needs, finances, and work commitments for many whānau and individuals with TBI from the Waikato region. My research focuses on the experiences of whānau navigators experience of caring for Māori tangata whaiora with TBI in the Waikato region. Whānau navigators for this thesis refers to members of the whānau who have familial obligations of care. Within this thesis I consult and engage with whānau about post-acute rehabilitation services. This is a qualitative based research project, which draws upon narrative inquiry, and a Kaupapa Māori research paradigm. Documenting these experiences will provide empirical evidence to highlight the invaluable role whānau have within recovery and the value of whānau support. This research can be used to identify the dynamic needs of whānau and encourage the healthcare system to provide a service that is consistent with Kaupapa Māori health frameworks and practices which at present is non- existent. As a result, the project will help inform the development of a service model within TBI that can better reflect and support the needs of whānau and Māori communities, that is a locally derived practice and more applicable and appropriate for Māori. Mauri ora!

text: Mai ngā pouwhirinaki - The experiences of whānau caring for Māori tangata whaiora with traumatic brain injury in the Waikato In Aotearoa today, Māori have a disproportionate experience of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the community and in prisons compared to non-Māori. Furthermore, Māori have higher mortality rates following TBI, and are more likely to have a prolonged stay in hospital then be discharged without community support services compared with non-Māori. Currently, many of the post-acute rehabilitation services are located in the Auckland region which causes undue pressure of whānau needs, finances, and work commitments for many whānau and individuals with TBI from the Waikato region. My research focuses on the experiences of whānau navigators experience of caring for Māori tangata whaiora with TBI in the Waikato region. Whānau navigators for this thesis refers to members of the whānau who have familial obligations of care. Within this thesis I consult and engage with whānau about post-acute rehabilitation services. This is a qualitative based research project, which draws upon narrative inquiry, and a Kaupapa Māori research paradigm. Documenting these experiences will provide empirical evidence to highlight the invaluable role whānau have within recovery and the value of whānau support. This research can be used to identify the dynamic needs of whānau and encourage the healthcare system to provide a service that is consistent with Kaupapa Māori health frameworks and practices which at present is non- existent. As a result, the project will help inform the development of a service model within TBI that can better reflect and support the needs of whānau and Māori communities, that is a locally derived practice and more applicable and appropriate for Māori. Mauri ora!

year: 2022