Cropping Systems Agronomy 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 (CO2, CH4, and N2O) emissions, soil organic matter - microbial community interactions, and their relationships with sustainable crop production and ecosystem services.
Lab Manager:
Vacant (https://jobs.nmsu.edu/postings/30494)
Interested candidate please contact.
Graduate students:
Mikayla Allan, 2017-2018: I am 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 hydraulic properties of small watershed in Jornada Rangeland Research site in my second project.
Role: Major advisor
Vesh B. Thapa, 2016-2018: I am 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
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.