Rupak Karn, Precision Agriculture Specialist

Hello!

I’m Rupak Karn, the new Precision Agriculture Specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center. I’m originally from Nepal, a country known for its breathtaking Himalayan mountains and rich cultural diversity. Growing up in an agrarian family, I witnessed firsthand the challenges that farmers in my region—and across many developing countries—face: high input costs, low productivity, declining soil health, and limited access to technology. These experiences inspired my lifelong commitment to agricultural innovation and sustainability.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Nepal in 2019, graduating with a University Merit Scholarship. Most recently, I completed my Ph.D. in Crop Science from Texas Tech University, where my research focused on "Optimizing Nitrogen Management in Dryland Cotton Using Precision Agriculture Technologies in the Southern High Plains." My work explored how landscape variability influences nitrogen use efficiency and aimed to develop site-specific nitrogen recommendations to reduce environmental impacts and improve farmers' profitability.

Throughout my academic journey, I developed strong expertise in remote sensing, UAV and satellite imagery, geospatial modeling, and site-specific nutrient management. These tools are vital for helping farmers apply the right inputs at the right place and time, improving both yields and environmental sustainability.

At CREC, I’m excited to lead research and extension programs focused on applying precision agriculture technologies to address challenges in North Dakota cropping systems, particularly in sensor-guided nutrient management, variable rate application, UAV-based field scouting, and drone spraying technologies. I look forward to building collaborations across disciplines and with growers to implement practical, research-driven solutions that support productivity and long-term soil health.

I’m thrilled to be part of the CREC team, where cutting-edge science meets real-world farming. Please feel free to reach out if you're interested in collaborating, learning about precision agriculture, or just talking about agriculture. I’d be happy to connect.

Thank you for the warm welcome, and I look forward to contributing to the success of North Dakota agriculture!

Rupak Karn, Ph.D.
Rupak.Karn@ndsu.edu
Precision Agriculture Specialist
Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering