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Amanda Lay-Walters

Assistant Professor
  • Horticultural Cropping Systems Extension Specialist
Amanda Lay Professional Headshot
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Location:

Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center
33446 Research Dr.
Painter, VA, 23420
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Contact:

amandamlw@vt.edu

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Overview

I am located at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, with a 50% extension and 50% research appointment. My role as a horticultural cropping systems specialist is to identify new and innovative production practices for horticultural crops. This can include researching factors such as planting dates, cultivar/variety, irrigation practices, fertility recommendations, and harvesting methods. Additionally, my role can include assessing new crops to integrate into production in the region. My research and extension programs work together so that we are consistently able to share our findings in appropriate extension settings and learn from our work with growers to identify current challenges in production systems.

Expertise

  • Horticultural production systems
  • Small fruit production
  • Vegetable production
  • Plant nutrition and soil fertility
  • New and emerging crops

Education

  • Ph.D., Horticulture, University of Arkansas, 2025
  • M.Sc., Horticulture, North Carolina State University, 2021
  • B.Sc., Horticulture, North Carolina State University, 2019

The goal of my research program at Virginia Tech is to improve the productivity, efficiency, quality, resilience, and sustainability of production systems for Virginia’s horticultural crops. My main focus is on vegetable production, looking at updating current recommendations and finding innovative ways to improve production. Additionally, I work to identify potential new or emerging crops for the region and assess their viability for production and marketing. I strive to support growers by developing strategies that can utilize new technologies and methodologies that will increase productivity and resilience of horticultural crops grown in Virginia and the surrounding regions.

With a 50% extension appointment, I work to serve stakeholders in the region and across Virginia. This includes communicating with growers through multiple mediums, visiting farms, attending and hosting extension events, and developing resources for growers to access through Virginia Cooperative Extension. My lab tries to maintain a digital presence to disseminate resources across multiple platforms. View all links

I have gained experience with various other crops during my undergraduate and graduate work, which is not reflected in my publications. This includes working for NCSU Sweetpotato and Potato Breeding and Genetics Programs, work with muscadines and grapes both during my M.Sc. and Ph.D., and work with cover crops, blueberries, peaches, and hops during my Ph.D.

  • Center for Environmental Farming Graduate Fellow, North Carolina State University, 2020-2021

  • Lay-Walters AM, McWhirt AL. 2026. Short report: Evaluation of blackberry petiole sampling to monitor nitrogen status. HortScience. (Accepted)
  • Lay-Walters AM, Hicks K, Roberts TL, McWhirt AL. 2026. Report of methodology: Development of southeastern blackberry leaf tissue nutrient sufficiency ranges. HortTechnology. DOI: 10.21273/HORTTECH05846-26
  • Lay-Walters AM, Threlfall RT, Dickson RW, Roberts TL, McWhirt AL. 2026. Impact of nitrogen fertilizer rate on 'Ouachita' blackberry leaf tissue nutrient concentration, growth, yield, and fruit quality. HortScience. 61(2): 416-424. DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI19078-25
  • Lay-Walters AM, Samtani J, Fernandez GE, Havlin J, Coneva E, Stafne ET, Bumgarner N, Lockwood D, Rubio Ames Z, Blaedow K, McWhirt AL. 2025. Survey of seasonal variation of leaf tissue nutrient concentration of southeastern blackberry. HortScience. 60(11): 1928-1937. DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI18867-25
  • Lay-Walters AM, McWhirt AL, Dickson RW. 2025. Temperature effects on plant development rate and quality of compact container grown cucumber and hot pepper. HortTechnology. 35(5): 671-673. DOI: 10.21273/HORTTECH05635-25
  • Duncan M, Lay-Walters A, Herrera L, McWhirt A, Cato A, Threlfall R. 2024. Impact of trellis system on blackberry crop canopy architecture and microclimate with implications for pest management. Acta Horticulturae. 1388: 241-248. DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1388.36
  • Lay-Walters A, Heagy K, Woodley A, Hoffmann M. 2024. impact of pre-plant fertilizer rates in combination with Polysulphate® on soil nitrogen distribution and yield of short-day strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa cv. Camarosa). Agronomy. 14(4): 774. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy14040774

  • American Society for Horticultural Science
  • Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science:
        2026-2027 Chair of Student Poster Competition
  • Pi Alpha Xi – Iota & Omicron Chapters