Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group

B.S., Agriculture and Chemistry, Murray St. Univ., 1972
M.S., Soil Chemistry Univ. of KY, 1975
Ph.D., Soil Chemistry Univ. of KY, 1978

Experience in Higher Education

1991 to present. The University of Tennessee, Dept. of Biosystems Engineering & Environmental Science. Professor. Stationed at the West Tennessee Experiment Station, Jackson, TN. Responsible for soil management research with emphasis on surface and subsurface water quality as affected by no-tillage cropping systems. Recent emphasis has been on research utilizing precision farming technologies for improved soil management and the utilization of woody and herbaceous crops for alternative biomass energy sources..

1983 to 1991. University of Tennessee, Dept. of Plant and Soil Science. Associate Professor. Stationed at the West Tennessee Experiment Station, Jackson, TN. Responsible for soil management research with emphasis on erosion control using no-tillage cropping systems.

1978-1983. University of Tennessee, Dept. of Plant and Soil Science. Assistant Professor. Responsible for soil management research.

Selected Refereed Publications

Tolbert, V.R., J.D. Joslin, F.C. Thornton, B.R. Bock, D.E. Pettry, W. Bandaranayake, D. Tyler, A. Houston, and S. Schoenholtz. 1999. Biomass Crop Production: Benefits for Soil Quality and Carbon Sequestration. pp. 127-132, Biomass: A growth opportunity in green energy and value-added products, 4th Biomass Conference of the Americas, (eds.) R.P. Overend and E. Chornet, Oakland, CA, Aug 30 - Sept. 2, 1999.

Tolbert, Virginia, F.C. Thornton, B.R. Bock, J.D. Joslin, W. Bandaranayake, D. Tyler, A. Houston, D. Pettry, S. Schoenholtz, T.H. Green, D.A. Mays. 1999. Environmental Aspects of Short-Rotation Woody crop Production. Proceedings, Session on Perspectives and Prospects for Use of Short-Rotation Woody Crops, Society of American Foresters, Portland, OR, September 12-16, 1999.

Tolbert, V.R., J.D. Joslin, B.R. Bock, F.C. Thornton, D.E. Pettry, W. Bandaranayake, A. Houston, Don Tyler. 2000. Belowground carbon sequestration associated with conversion of agricultural lands to production of bioenergy crops. New Zealand Journal of Forestry 30(1):138-149.

Tolbert, V.R., F.C. Thornton, B.R. Bock, J.D. Joslin, W. Bandaranayake, D. Tyler, A. Houston, D. Pettry, S. Schoenholtz, T.H. Green, D.A. Mays. 2000. Environmental Aspects of Short-Rotation Woody Crop Production. J Am Foresters, (In Press).
Tolbert, V.R., D.E. Todd Jr., L.K. Mann, C.M. Jawdy, D.A. Mays, R. Malik, W. Bandaranayake, A. Houston, D. Tyler, D.E. Pettry. 2002. Changes in soil quality and below-ground carbon storage with conversion of traditional agricultural crop lands to bioenergy crop production. Environmental Pollution. 116: S97-S106.

Devine, Warren, Donald Tyler, Michael Mullen, Alan Houston, Dev Joslin, Donald Hodges, Virginia Tolbert, and Marie Walsh. 2002. Integrating woody biomass crops in rotation I. management implications. p. 786-1. 786-9. Soil Science: confronting new realities in the 21st century. Trans. World Congress of Soil Science. Bangkok, Thailand.

Devine, Warren, Michael Mullen, Donald Tyler, Alan Houston, Dev Joslin, Donald Hodges, Virginia Tolbert and Marie Walsh. 2002. Integrating woody biomass crops and row crops in rotation. II: effects on soils. p. 785-1 - 785-9. Soil Science: confronting new realities in the 21st century. Trans. World Congress of Soil Science. Bangkok, Thailand.

Devine, W.D*., M.D. Mullen, D. Tyler, A.E. Houston, J.D. Joslin, D.G. Hodges, V.R. Tolbert, and M.E. Walsh. 2004. Conversion from a Sycamore biomass crop to a no-till corn system: effects on soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 68:225-233.

Honors and Awards

1. Sigma Xi
2. Alpha Chi
3. Gamma Sigma Delta
4. Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities - 1972
5. Murray State University (graduated Summa Cum Laude) - 1972
6. Invited presentation for Centennial Symposium of the Murray St. Univ. Sigma Xi Club on Effects of Soil Erosion on the Environment - 1986
7. President's Citation Award - Soil and Water Conservation Society - 1991.
8. Outstanding Achievement in Promotion of No-till Farming Award - West TN. No-till Farmers Association and BASF - 1994.
9. Fellow Award - Soil and Water Conservation Society - 1995.
10. President’s Citation Award - Soil and Water Conservation Society - 1997.
11. Career-Professional Award in Research - Southern Branch ASA 1999.
12. Fellow Award - American Society of Agronomy 2001.
13. Fellow Award – Soil Science Society of America 2002.