Debankur Sanyal

As a soil biogeochemist and UA's only statewide Soil Health Extension Specialist, I lead the Healthy Desert Soils Initiative (HDSI), an integrated research and extension program built specifically for irrigated arid and semi-arid agroecosystems. My research investigates fundamental questions about soil biogeochemical processes, nutrient cycling, and soil health assessment across multiple scales, using approaches ranging from laboratory experiments to commercial-scale field trials across 14 of Arizona's 15 counties. Through direct producer engagement, field demonstrations, workshops, and statewide soil health surveys, I work alongside growers, land managers, and agricultural professionals to translate original scientific findings into practical, desert-adapted soil health solutions. My program addresses commodities including cotton, leafy vegetables, alfalfa, pecans, vineyards, and rangelands, with the shared goal of building resilient, productive, and sustainable agricultural systems across the desert Southwest and beyond.

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