Agronomy · Crop Science · Nutrient Management
Graduate Research Assistant & M.S. CandidatePennsylvania State University
Connecting field research, crop management, and data
to advance productive, sustainable agricultural systems.
Seeking Ph.D. opportunities in agronomy and crop science
I study how crop and nutrient management decisions shape agricultural productivity, bringing together field experimentation, laboratory analysis, and farmer engagement.
At Penn State, I work with Dr. Heather Karsten to characterize wood- and poultry litter-derived biochars and evaluate their effects on ammonia volatilization, nitrous oxide emissions, soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and corn silage yield in no-till dairy cropping systems. My background spans participatory rice variety trials, seed production, and agricultural advisory services in Nepal.
I am seeking Ph.D. opportunities primarily in agronomy and crop science, with interests in precision agriculture, crop improvement, and nutrient management. My long-term goal is applied research with practical value for growers and the agricultural industry.
View my Penn State profileM.S., Department of Plant Science
Selected coursework: Field Crop Management; Soil Nutrient Behavior and Management; Ecology of Agricultural Systems; Soil Ecosystem Analytical Techniques; Regression Methods; ANOVA and Experimental Design.
Advisor: Dr. Heather Karsten
Department of Plant Science
School of Agriculture · Kailali, Nepal
B.S. in Agriculture
Selected coursework: Agronomy; Plant Breeding and Genetics; Soil Science; Horticulture; Plant Physiology; Statistics; Geo-Informatics and Nanotechnology.
Thesis: Participatory Varietal Selection of Spring Rice Genotypes in Kailali, Nepal
Current work and foundations for future research.
Penn State · Current research
My two-year field and laboratory project evaluates wood- and poultry litter-derived biochars in no-till dairy cropping systems, examining ammonia volatilization, nitrous oxide emissions, soil nutrient dynamics, and corn silage yield.
I manage field operations and soil/crop sampling, measure nitrogen losses, characterize biochar, and analyze treatment responses using mixed models, repeated measures, and regression.
Undergraduate research · LI-BIRD internship · February–July 2023
I conducted this undergraduate research for Far Western University during my internship with Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), Nepal, under the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security (SD=HS) project. I evaluated twelve spring rice genotypes with farmers in Kailali, combining experimental design, crop management, field observations, and farmer participation in varietal evaluation.
Read the published study
CURRENT RESEARCH · PENN STATE
Following the links between biochar properties, nitrogen dynamics, and corn silage production in no-till dairy cropping systems.
Conduct field and laboratory research on two biochar feedstocks in no-till dairy cropping systems, from amendment application and manure management to soil and crop sampling. Measure nitrogen losses and soil nutrients, characterize biochar properties, and analyze crop and treatment responses in R and JMP. Share findings through conferences, exhibitions, and extension outreach.
Provided farmers in Rupa Rural Municipality with advice on crop production, soil fertility, pest and disease diagnosis, and nutrient management. Coordinated with public, nonprofit, and private-sector partners.
Supported participatory plant breeding, Farmer Field Schools, on-farm evaluation, and certified rice and wheat seed production through the Sowing Diversity = Harvesting Security project.
Chamberlin, A., Subedi, S., Karsten, H., & Bazilevskaya, E.
McNair National Research Journal, 5.
Available upon requestSubedi, S., Sharma, R., & Regmi, S.
Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 8(2), 113–119.
Regmi, S., Sharma, R., & Subedi, S.
Agriculture Extension in Developing Countries.
Sharma, R., Tiwari, S., Lamichhane, S., & Subedi, S.
KMC Journal, 6(1), 300–312.
Research plot establishment; RCBD and split-plot designs; corn and cover crop management; crop scouting; soil and manure sampling; and participatory on-farm trials.
Hands-on experience with the Gasmet FTIR GT5000 for N₂O measurements, semi-open chambers and acid traps for ammonia volatilization, flow injection analysis (FIA) for soil NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻, and the Elementar UNICUBE CHNS analyzer for biochar composition. Additional work includes X-ray fluorescence (XRF), electrical conductivity (EC), ash determination, soil moisture and temperature monitoring, and laboratory quality assurance.
R, JMP, mixed-effects models, ANOVA/ANCOVA, repeated-measures analysis, regression, data visualization, QGIS, RTK GPS, and nitrogen-cycle modeling.
Teaching assistant for Plants and Humans (Spring 2026) and Ornamental Plant Materials (Fall 2026). Outreach includes Penn State Extension’s FOCCE webinar series and Ag Progress Days.
Walter Thomas Memorial Scholarship (2026/2027) and FOCCE Scholar (2026). Member of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.
Secretary, Nepali Society at Penn State (July 2025–July 2026). Previously a member of the Agriculture Student Liaison Forum at Far Western University (2020–2022).
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
Presenting work on biochar, nitrogen losses, and corn yield—and exchanging ideas with other researchers.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS · 2026
Research in no-till dairy cropping systems in Pennsylvania.
RESEARCH COMMUNICATION
Outreach and presentations connect research with growers, communities, and fellow researchers.
07 / CONTACT
Interested in Ph.D. opportunities and research collaborations in agronomy, crop science, and precision agriculture.
subedisaurab01@gmail.com