UNH Cooperative Extension is pleased to welcome , Ph.D.,Renuka Mathur to the Food and Agriculture Team, as a Soil Health State Specialist. Renuka has several years of experience conducting soil fertility research studies, performing outreach activities, and teaching soil science courses. She holds a Ph.D. in soil science with a specialization in soil chemistry and fertility from Texas A&M University.
The Soil Health State Specialist is a new position at UNH Extension, although soil science is not new to Extension based research. Farmers and partners with a long history with UNH will recall many research projects conducted in the field by agronomist Dr. Jim Mitchell and soil scientist Dr. George Estes. As our understanding of soils have evolved, we have adapted this position to take a holistic approach to soil management.
Olivia Saunders, Field Specialist for Extension and chair of the search committee says of Renuka’s hire, “We are thrilled to welcome Renuka to New Hampshire Extension. Renuka has extensive experience running statewide soil testing programs, supporting the analytical side, database management, and working with clients to improve nutrient management on their farms. She has much to share with us in New Hampshire about the science behind new and innovative soil health measurements, as the need for climate-smart agriculture practices grows. We look forward to expanding our soil health programming statewide.”
Renuka’s goal is to unite soil health and crop production practices to achieve long-term agriculture and climate sustainability. She strives to understand agronomic and soil health principles across temporal and spatial scales to improve soil resilience in order to maximize yields. She is passionate about the value soil testing can have for growers and the insight it can provide regarding the underlying dynamic living soil environment. Renuka aims to integrate soil testing procedures with on-farm decision-making practices that will advance the overall crop productivity with minimal inorganic fertilizer use.
As the State Specialist for Soil Health, she is excited for the opportunity to collaborate with New Hampshire growers and partner agencies to enhance soil health, maximize yields, and improve environmental quality.
Welcome, Renuka!
