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Yadunath Bajgai - Effect of alternative cropping management on soil organic carbon
Yadunath Bajgai is working on the “Effect of alternative cropping management on soil organic carbon” for his PhD research which began in July 2009. He is a recipient of the Australian Government’s prestigious and internationally competitive Endeavour Postgraduate Award for his PhD study. Yadu graduated in 1998 with BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from the University of Wales, Bangor in the UK and completed a MSc from Chiang Mai University, Thailand in 2006. His MSc thesis was entitled “Assessment of soil fertility status in the agricultural land of Guma block in West-central Bhutan”.
Yadu has well over a decade of professional experience in the various departments in the Bhutanese Ministry of Agriculture and Forest (MOAF). He has served in various positions concentrating on rural agricultural development and extension and working as Deputy Chief Agriculture Officer since January 2009 in the Pemagatshel district administration, eastern Bhutan.
In his research project, he is simulating the organic practices in a corn (summer)-cabbage (winter) rotation alongside plots using conventional vegetable growing methods at two UNE farms in the Armidale area. The trial is investigating the effects of key organic practices - tillage and corn residues incorporation - on soil carbon dynamics. He has already made headway through his field trial with a summer corn crop harvested and the residues incorporated in May 2010. A cabbage crop was planted shortly after and is now growing well. His investigation is expected to improve understanding of some the short term effects of tillage and incorporating corn residue in terms of changes in soil physical properties, soil organic carbon capture and corn-cabbage yields in the New England conditions. His supervisors are Dr Paul Kristiansen, University of New England; and Dr Nilantha Hulugalle, NSW Department of I & I/Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri; and Dr Melinda McHenry, Central Queensland University.