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Upendra M Sainju

Research Soil Scientist

 


Upendra Sainju.Upendra M. Sainju

Research Soil Scientist


upendra.sainju@ars.usda.gov

www.ars.usda.gov/pa/nparl/usainju 

 

Phone: 406.433.9408
Fax: 406.433.5038
   
 • Education • Current Research • Research Experience • Accomplishments • Selected Publications • Other Publications

Additional Pages: Research Projects,*Publications*

*Taken from the Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) database.

 
EDUCATION  

B.S. Agriculture 1973 University of Udaipur, Udajpur, Rajasthan, India
M.S. Soil Science 1982 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Ph. D. Soil Science 1989 University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

 
CURRENT RESEARCH

1973-1980 Assistant Soil Scientist and Agronomist, Dept. of Agriculture, Kathmandu, Nepal
1980-1982 Graduate Research Assistant, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
1983-1986 Visiting Professor, Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Hatauda, Nepal
1986-1989 Graduate Research Assistant, Forestry Dept., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
1989-1990 Research Associate, Agronomy Dept., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
1990-1991 Postdoctoral Associate, Center for Coastal and Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, NJ
1991-1995 Postdoctoral Associate, Crop and Soil Sciences Dept., Washington State University Research and Extension Center, Puyallup, WA
1995-2004  Research Associate, Agricultural Research Station, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA
2004-Present     Research Agronomist, USDA, ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory

 

  RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Dr. Sainju is currently working on the effects of tillage, crop rotation, crop diversity, cropping intensity, and cultural practices on soil aggregation, organic matter concentration, microbial activities, nitrogen mineralization, and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in dryland areas. He is also engaged in studying the effects of irrigation management, nitrogen fertilization rates, and cultural practices in nitrate-nitrogen movement in soil that affects water quality, soil organic matter level, and nitrogen mineralization in irrigated land. He is also involved in the development of methodology for determination of soil aggregation for dryland and irrigated areas and extraction method for determining ammonium and nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in the soils of various textures amended with or without plant residue.

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Dr. Sainju has conducted research on soil and crop management practices, crop nutrition, soil fertility, soil biochemistry, and rhizosphere dynamics for efficient nitrogen uptake and reduced nitrogen leaching, carbon and nitrogen sequestration, improved soil and water qualities, and sustainable crop production. His areas of expertise include soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, nitrogen management, fertilizer use, soil organic matter and biochemical properties, root growth, nutrient uptake, and crop production. During his eight years of working on the long-term effects of tillage, cover crops, and nitrogen fertilization on crop production, carbon sequestration in plant and soil, soil nitrogen fertility, microbial activities, and nitrogen leaching at Fort Valley State University, he developed a management practice consisting of conservation tillage, cover cropping, and nitrogen rate that sustains crop production, improves soil and water qualities, and reduces the rate of nitrogen fertilization as compared with the conventional practice. He has authored and co-authored 30 research and Extension publications on soil organic matter dynamics, nitrogen management, root growth, waste management, and crop production.

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS: (for the past 17 years)

Please note: The most recent publications by this scientist may not yet be listed here. Please check the ARIS "Publications" page for possible new titles. 

 

 OTHER PUBLICATIONS (for the past 17 years)