Rate My Professor Rishi Prasad

Rishi Prasad is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Nutrient Management within the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences at Auburn University's College of Agriculture. He earned his Ph.D. in Soil and Water Science from the University of Florida in 2014, a Master of Science in Agronomy from West Virginia University in 2010, and a Bachelor of Science from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in India. Prior to joining Auburn University in 2017 as an Assistant Professor, Prasad worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service in Pennsylvania, studying weather impacts on row crop farms, and with a Michigan-based technology company focused on farm profitability. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2023 and also holds an affiliation with the Department of Animal Sciences. Prasad leads the Animal Waste and Environmental Nutrient Management Lab, where his research employs a systems approach to address environmental challenges in crop-livestock production systems. His work centers on nutrient management, particularly the use of poultry litter as a fertilizer for crops and pastures, phosphorus dynamics in soils, soil health practices, cover crop effects on nutrient leaching, and innovative techniques such as pelletizing litter for slow-release fertilization. Key projects include evaluating the Alabama Phosphorus Index with edge-of-field monitoring, reducing ammonia emissions in poultry houses, and assessing Phosphorus Saturation Ratio for soil phosphorus management.

Prasad's contributions have practical impacts on Alabama agriculture, the nation's second-largest poultry producer, by providing solutions for poultry producers, row croppers, and policymakers to enhance resource efficiency and minimize environmental risks like nutrient runoff. His Google Scholar profile reflects 1,116 citations, underscoring his influence in agronomy, soil science, precision agriculture, crop modeling, and data science. Notable publications include 'Understanding the environmental impact of phosphorus in poultry litter-amended soil' (Science of the Total Environment, 2021), 'Evaluation of Alabama phosphorus index using edge-of-field monitoring data' (Journal of Environmental Quality, 2026), 'Mehlich 3 as a generic soil test extractant for environmental phosphorus risk assessment' (Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 2021), and 'Effect of cover crops on phosphorus and trace metal leaching in a poultry litter-amended soil' (Agricultural Water Management, 2025). In 2025, he received the Rittenour Award for Excellence in Production Agriculture and Forestry Research from the Alabama Farmers Federation, which included a $10,000 grant, recognizing his tangible impacts on production agriculture.