Bhandari, Mahendra Assistant Professor

My research lies on the intersection of agronomy/crop physiology and the use of technologies to investigate the physiological and biophysical processes involved in genetics, environment, and management interactions. The overall goal is to utilize emerging technologies and associated data analytics to develop data driven tools for genotype selection, cropping system design, and crop management decisions. Specific research areas include remote sensing (Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), satellite imagery, and ground sensors), big data analytics, high throughput phenotyping for improved response to biotic and abiotic stresses, and precision agriculture for predictive and prescriptive management of irrigation, fertilizer, growth regulators, and harvest-aid chemicals. The program conducts small plot research as well as on-farm research trials of cotton, corn, and sorghum to develop test beds and evaluate the performance of data driven tools.