Dr. Upendra Singh, Vice President, Research, specializes in soil fertility and systems modeling. For more than 30 years, he has focused on the development and application of crop simulation models and decision support systems for agricultural research, development, and extension.
As a member of the International Consortium for Agricultural Systems Application, Singh played a major role in developing the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT), which has been used by IFDC and other international organizations for more than 20 years. In addition, he was instrumental in developing the CERES-Rice model, the SUBSTOR-Aroids model, and the Phosphate Rock Decision Support System (PRDSS). Through these tools, users can make sounder, more environmentally sustainable decisions and provide effective technology transfer, particularly in developing countries.
In recent years, Singh has led research on quantifying ammonia volatilization and denitrification losses from flooded rice fields and the potential of fertilizer management practices, such as urea deep placement, to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer. In addition, Singh is working with scientists, engineers, and farmers to develop and evaluate fertilizer products that improve nutrient use efficiency, recycle wastes and biomass, reduce nitrogen losses, and perform well under a variety of conditions.
Training is an integral part of Singh’s work. He has organized and conducted over 60 international training programs and workshops (more than 1,500 participants trained) in 28 countries.
Singh holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in soil science from the University of Hawaii and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from the University of the South Pacific.
Selected Publications
Agyin-Birikorang, S., I. Tindjina, A.R.A. Fuseini, H.W. Dauda, and R.A. Issahaku, U. Singh. 2020. “Application Timing of Urea Supergranules for Climate-Resilient Maize Cultivars Grown in Northern Ghana,” Journal of Plant Nutrition, 43:7, 949-964. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2019.1702207
Agyin-Birikorang, S., I. Tindjina, C. Boubakary, W. Dogbe, and U. Singh. 2020. “Resilient Rice Fertilization Strategy for Submergence-Prone Savanna Agro-Ecological Zones of Northern Ghana,” Journal of Plant Nutrition, 43:7, 965-986, https://doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2019.1702209
Agyin-Birikorang, S., I. Tindjina, R. Adu-Gyamfi, H.W. Dauda, A.R.A. Fuseini, and U. Singh. 2020. “Agronomic Effectiveness of Urea Deep Placement Technology for Upland Maize Production.” Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosyst, 116:179-193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-019-10039-8
Baral, B., K. Pande, Y. Gaihre, K. Baral, S. Sah, Y. Thapa, and U. Singh. 2020. “Increasing Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Rice Through Fertilizer Application Method Under Rainfed Drought Conditions in Nepal,” Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 118:103-114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-020-10086-6
Bationo, A., U. Singh, E. Dossa, J. Wendt, S. Agyin-Birikorang, F. Lompo, and P. Bindraban. 2020. “Improving Soil Fertility through Fertilizer Management in Sub-Saharan Africa,” IN Soil and Fertilizers: Managing the Environmental Footprint, Rattan Lal (Ed.), pp. 67‑102, CRC Press.
Dimkpa, C.O., J. Fugice, U. Singh, and T.D. Lewis. 2020. “Development of Fertilizers for Enhanced Nitrogen Use Efficiency–Trends and Perspectives.” Science of the Total Environment, 731:139113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139113
Dimpka, C.O., J. Andrews, J. Fugice, U. Singh, P.S. Bindraban, W.H. Elmer, J.L. Gardea-Torresdey, and J.C. White. 2020. “Facile Coating of Urea with Low-Dose ZnO Nanoparticles Promotes Wheat Performance and Enhances Zn Uptake Under Drought Stress,” Frontiers in Plant Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00168
Dimpka, C.O., J. Andrews, J. Sanabria, P.S. Bindraban, U. Singh, W.H. Elmer, J.L. Gardea-Torresdey, and J.C. White. 2020. “Interactive Effects of Drought, Organic Fertilizer, and Zinc Oxide Nanoscale and Bulk Particles on Wheat Performance and Grain Nutrient Accumulation,” Science of the Total Environment, 722:137808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137808
Falconnier, G.N., M. Corbeels, K. Boote, F. Affholder, M. Adam, D.S. MacCarthy, A.C. Ruane, C. Nendel, A.M. Whitbread, G. Hoogenboom, U. Singh, W.N. Smith, A. Srivastava, S. Sinha, F. Tao, P.J. Thorburn, D. Timlin, B. Traore, T. Twine, and H. Webber. 2020. “Modelling Climate Change Impacts on Maize Yields Under Low Nitrogen Input Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Global Change Biology, 26(10):5942-5964. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15261
Gaihre, Y., U. Singh, W. Bible, J. Fugice, and J. Sanabria. 2020. “Mitigating N2O and NO Emissions from Direct-Seeded Rice with Nitrification Inhibitor and Urea Deep Placement,” Rice Science, 27(5):434-444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsci.2020.03.005
Gao, Y., D. Wallach, B. Liu, M. Dingkuhn, K.J. Boote, U. Singh, S. Asseng, T. Kahveci, J. He, R. Zhang, R. Confalonieri, and G. Hoogenboom. 2020. “Comparison of Three Calibration Methods for Modeling Rice Phenology,” Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 280:107785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2019.107785
Islam, S.M.M., Y. Gaihre, M.R. Islam, M. Akter, A. Al Mahmud, U. Singh, and B.O. Sander. 2020. “Effect of Water Management on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Farmers’ Rice Fields in Bangladesh,” Science of the Total Environment, 734:139382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139382
Siddique, I.A., A. Al Mahmud, M. Hossain, M.R. Islam, Y. Gaihre, and U. Singh. 2020. “Movement and Retention of NH4-N in Wetland Rice Soils as Affected by Urea Application Methods,” Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 20(2):589-597. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-019-00148-2
Singh, U. 2020. “Micronutrients’ Roles in Improving Crop Yields and the Effectiveness of Nanoscale Formulations.” IFA Fertilizers & Agriculture Newsletter: Micronutrients in Focus. https://www.fertilizer.org/Public/Media/In_Brief/Public/Media/In_Brief/2020_09_16_Micronutrients_Improving_Crop_Yields.aspx
Wang, X., S. Liu, X. Yin, N. Bellaloui, J.H. Winings, S. Agyin-Birikorang, U. Singh, J. Sanabria, and A. Mengistu. 2020. “Maize Grain Composition with Additions of NPK Briquette and Organically Enhanced N Fertilizer.” Agronomy, 10:6. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10060852