Cropping Systems and Soil Management Laboratory
My research focuses improving efficiency, profitability, and soil environmental quality in dryland and limited-irrigation cropping systems. I am interested in soil organic matter dynamics, nutrient cycling, soil-plant relations, and greenhouse gas emissions, soil organic matter-microbial community interactions, and their relationships with sustainable crop production and ecosystem services.
Joining soon
Prospective students
We are always looking for highly motivated, good graduate students, interested in interdisciplinary approach in cropping systems research. Please, take a look at my program and see if that is similar to your research interest. Interested students contact Dr. Rajan Ghimie at rghimire@nmsu.edu
Current students
Pramod Achayra, 2017-2019: Evaluating soil profile C and N dynamics, soil health, and soil structure under diverse cover crops limited-irrigation winter wheat-sorghum-fallow. The main goal of my research is to increase crop diversity and improve soil resilience in while transitioning crop production in limited irrigation to dryland crop production.
Role: Co-advisor (ENMU)
Mikayla J. Allan, 2017-2018: Evaluating effects of corn row spacing, silage cutting heights, and
cover crops on soil health; specifically C and N dynamics within Heritage Dairy Farm located on the outskirts of Clovis, NM. Maps
will be created to illustrate the spatial variability of nutrients within the field
before and after the treatment applications. I am also monitoring soil hydraulic properties of small watershed in Jornada Rangeland Research site in my second project.
Role: Major advisor
Vesh R. Thapa, 2016-2018: Evaluating soil health and crop production in dryland
cropping systems. I am comparing soil
health indicators such as active C, mineralizable C, available N, soil
aggregation, and crop yields under different tillage and cover cropping in
drylands. Overall, the research is addressing the essence of
reduced tillage and crop diversification for soil conservation and sustainable
crop production in drylands of New Mexico.Role: Major advisor
Recent graduates
Vesh R. Thapa, 2016-2018: Agricultural management systems affect soil health and crop production in drylands of Eastern New Mexico (Role: Major advisor). Continuing as a Ph.D. Student with me at NMSU.
Binod Ghimire, M.S., 2017, Cover crops effects on soil organic matter dynamics, weed suppression and crop yield in a limited-irrigated winter wheat-summer fallow system (Role: Co-advisor), Currently Ph.D. Student at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL.
Binod Ghimire, M.S., 2017, Cover crops effects on soil organic matter dynamics, weed suppression and crop yield in a limited-irrigated winter wheat-summer fallow system (Role: Co-advisor), Currently Ph.D. Student at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL.
Visiting students/scholars
Yaqiong Fan, China Agricultural University, Simulating SOC dynamics and GHG emissions in cropping systems using DayCent Model, Sept.-Oct. 2017.