Debankur Sanyal

Dr. Debankur Sanyal is an Assistant Professor and Soil Health Specialist at the University of Arizona's Department of Environmental Sciences. He leads the statewide Soil Health Research and Extension program, focusing on sustainable agricultural practices in desert environments. His work includes the 'Healthy Desert Soils Initiative' addressing soil health challenges in Arizona's low deserts. Dr. Sanyal holds a PhD from North Dakota State University (2022) and prior degrees from Punjab Agricultural University. He has extensive experience in soil-microbe interactions, cover cropping systems, and regenerative agriculture strategies.

Key professional roles include dual appointments as:

• Assistant Specialist at Maricopa Agricultural Center
• Primary Faculty in Environmental Sciences
• Extension Faculty for Arid & Semi-Arid Agriculture

Research interests emphasize:

• Soil health metrics and microbial ecology
• Cover crop impacts on desert agriculture
• Climate-resilient crop systems
• Farmer stakeholder engagement

Recent research trends show strong focus on:

• Cover crop efficacy in arid conditions
• Nitrogen fixation optimization
• Soil carbon sequestration
• Climate-smart irrigation practices

Notable achievements include:

• National Fellowship for Master's research
• University Merit Scholarship
• Leadership in multiple USDA-funded projects

Current initiatives involve:

• Soil health needs assessments across Arizona
• Development of low-cost soil monitoring tools
• Stakeholder workshops on regenerative practices