Manbir Rakkar joined Ohio State University as an assistant professor of soil fertility and nutrient management in August 2023. She is a faculty in the School of Environment and Natural Resources and serves as Soil Fertility Extension State Specialist. Before joining OSU, she was a faculty at Montana State University with research focused on soil acidification. Originally from Punjab, India, Manbir completed her PhD in agronomy with a specialization in soil and water sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has a diverse research experience and have worked on topics such as evaluating potassium fertilizer recommendations, soil ecosystem services in integrated crop-livestock system, soil health under annual and perennial cropping systems and soil acidification in semi-arid environments.
Her current program addresses applied soil health and nutrient management questions in agronomic systems. Her lab evaluates crop nutrient needs, develop farmer-friendly soil health tests, and understand how long-term management strategies can build organic matter and soil resilience. In addition to research, she engages in extension activities to disseminate research findings, learn about regional agricultural concerns, and execute farmer-oriented research projects to develop sustainable and vibrant agriculture systems.
Manbir enjoys travelling and exploring cultures around the world. She spends most of her ‘free’ time doing tea parties with her toddler and chasing her infant around. Manbir is looking forward to connecting with growers, ag retailers, county agents and policy makers to better serve the farm community and build healthy soils in Ohio and beyond. If you would like to connect, contact Manbir via email (rakkar.4@osu.edu), phone (330) 263-8040, or stop by her office in Williams Hall, 131.