Maame Croffie
Technologist - Soil Chemistry and SpectroscopyResearch Interests
I have an interest in environmental chemistry with a focus on spectroscopy in the rapid identification of elements in the environment and their applications for analysing other soil physiochemical properties. Spectroscopy techniques such as FTIR and XRF provide a safe, rapid and inexpensive analysis of soil in a solid state with the advantage of having portable forms. Also, I have an interest in sustainable agriculture with a focus on recycling nutrient-rich waste as fertiliser.
My main research interests are:
· Soil health
· Soil fertility
· Agriculture sustainability
· Environmental chemistry
· Heavy metals in environment and food
· Soil carbon sequestration
· Spectroscopy
Current Projects
I currently work as a technologist under the supervision of Karen Daly on the proximal sensing for near real-time monitoring of soil organic carbon pools for climate smart management (PRISM) project. PRISM is a co-funded project by the New Zealand government and DAFM which will develop proximal sensing tools for monitoring and assessment of SOC pools and DOC loss in farm landscapes in Ireland and New Zealand.
Education
2022 - PhD. Agri-Food & Land Use, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
2017 - MSc. Advanced Food Safety, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
2010 – BSc. Biological Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana
Professional Membership
Soil Science Society of Ireland
Croffie, M.E.T., Williams, P.N., Fenton, O., Fenelon, A., Daly, K., 2022, Effect of anaerobic-digested and lime-stabilized dairy processing sludge on phosphorus dynamics in grassland soils with varying textures. Journal of Cleaner Production.
Croffie, M.E.T., Williams, P.N., Fenton, O., Fenelon, A., Daly, K., 2022, Rubidium measured by XRF as a predictor of soil particle size in limestone and siliceous parent materials. Journal of Soils and Sediments.
Croffie, M.E.T., Williams, P.N., Fenton, O., Fenelon, A., Metzger, K., Daly, K., 2020, Optimising sample preparation and calibrations in EDXRF for quantitative soil analysis, Agronomy,10,1309.
European Geosciences General Assembly (2021), Oral presentation X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for rapid screening of particle size in soils. European Geosciences Union General Assembly (2020), Poster presentation- Determination of trace elements and macronutrients in agricultural soils using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence as a rapid and precise analytical technique Teagasc Tillage Conference (2018), Poster presentation- The impact of biosolids and dairy waste on soil and crop quality, and the application of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for the rapid analysis of soil, crops and amendments.