Dr. Sudeep Singh Sidhu
Assistant Professor, Agronomy
Dr. Sidhu leads research and extension efforts to develop site-specific nutrient and water management strategies for various cropping systems in FL (peanut-cotton- cotton; peanut-corn-carrot; peanut-corn) with and without cover crops. Dr. Sidhu’s team investigates impact of alternate cropping system such as sod-based cropping system (bahiagrass-bahiagrass-peanut-cotton; bahiagrass-bahiagrass-peanut-corn; bahiagrass-bahiagrass-peanut-corn-carrot) with or without cattle grazing on ground water quality, nutrient cycling, and nitrate leaching by utilizing drain gauge lysimeters and deep core (up to 20 feet) soil sampling. Dr. Sidhu utilizes field mapping technologies such as Veris MSP3 to map fields based on different soil properties and utilizes capacitance-based soil moisture probes for making zone-based nutrient and water management decisions. Dr. Sidhu’s team works on developing and demonstrating on-farm tools such as nitrogen calibration strip, side dressing of nitrogen in corn using high clearance equipment, and sensor-based approaches such as NDVI to inform in-season nitrogen, and testing new fertilizer technologies in corn, cotton, peanuts, and soybeans. Dr. Sidhu is leading efforts to develop protocols to plant cover crops before corn harvest to be able to scavenge unused soil nitrogen thus reducing potential nitrate leaching.
Extension
Dr. Sidhu is a lead on sod-based rotation demonstration and research site at NFREC-Quincy and integrated crop-livestock rotational study at NFREC-SV. Both these long-term sites are maintained for research and educational purposes. These sites are used for demonstrating use of drain gauge lysimeters, variable rate irrigation system, and benefits of alternate cropping systems including bahiagrass, row crops, and vegetables with and without winter cover crops and cattle grazing.
Dr. Sidhu is also a lead on “On-farm Application of Best Management Practices: Timing, Rate, and Placement of Nutrients with Cover Cropping”. This project focuses on establishing on-farm trials at several grower locations in Florida Panhandle and North-Central Florida to demonstrate the effectiveness and benefits of side-dress application of nitrogen in corn and planting cover crops before harvesting corn using high clearance ‘High Boy”.
Dr. Sidhu establishes on-farm demonstration trials for testing new and upcoming technologies for making them cost effective and practical to be used on a farm scale.
Dr. Sidhu organizes in-service trainings for county and regional extension faculty along with field days and workshops to spread knowledge to our stakeholders.
CORN AND COTTON VARIETY TRIALS
Contact Information
Phone: 850-875-7119 (office); 706-202-1165 (cell)
Office:
155 Research Road
Quincy, FL 32351
Building #7904, Room#72
