Education
Ph.D. student, Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
M.Sc. Agricultural Biotechnology, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland
Background
I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, specializing in environmental and food microbiology studies. I conducted a study on the presence of pollutants in surface water in specific areas and explored the feasibility of using bioremediation as a potential method to address this issue. I researched food safety comprehensively, spanning the entire food supply chain, from farm to table.
Previous Research Work
The focus of my master’s research was the development of safe and high-quality silage for dairy and beef production systems. Creating sustainable methods to provide a sufficient and high-quality supply of silage enhances animal performance and optimizes farmers’ profitability.
Current Research work
The primary aim of my PhD study is to examine the environmental impacts of the conventional rotational cropping system, particularly in relation to nitrous oxide emissions and leaching. I am particularly interested in investigating how incorporating management methods such as cover crops and tillage influences these effects. An integrated strategy involves investigating the influence of cover crops and not using cover crops, together with two different tillage methods, on plant characteristics while also considering the environmental consequences.
My additional research involves the integration of winter cereal cover crops, specifically wheat, into a corn cropping system. The objective is to examine its impact on the loss and availability of nitrogen nutrients. The integrated cropping system aims to examine the impact of various cover crop termination intervals on the subsequent production of corn and the quality of the cover crop, which would include the C:N ratio and lignin: N ratio. An investigation will be conducted to evaluate the decomposition of the cover crop residue, both above and below the ground.
Sadeghpour Lab 