In New Position, Aula Investigates Tillage Impact on Soil

By Elise St Clair

Lawrence Aula began March 1 as a research assistant professor in agronomy and horticulture at the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff. He has a 100% research appointment. 

But this is not Aula’s first time conducting research at Nebraska. He worked alongside Cody Creech and Amanda Easterly as a postdoctoral research associate in the Dryland Cropping Systems lab from December 2021 to August 2023. 

“I was responsible for collecting and synthesizing existing data from a long-term tillage experiment located at the High Plains Ag Lab near Sidney, Nebraska,” Aula said. “I also conducted research to improve winter wheat seeding decisions based on seeding rates, cultivars, planting dates, and row spacing.” 

In his new position, Aula is investigating how converting a long-term continuous no-till plot that relies solely on herbicides for weed management to an occasional tillage plot affects the physical properties of its soil. His research project calls for tilling the soil every six years so he and his team can establish the long-term effects of the transition. 

Growing up in Oyam, Uganda, Aula’s childhood was affected by the actions of a rebel group called the Lord's Resistance Army. Before moving to Lira municipality, his family would occasionally spend a few days “sleeping in the bush to avoid rebel attacks.”

During this time of instability, he developed an early interest in agriculture as he worked alongside his parents to produce crops.