our team

soil scientists

Shubham Natikar

Technical Officer, DPIRD
+61 8 9690 2207
Technical officer Shubham Natikar

My role

I am a technical officer in the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)’s Soil Science and Crop Nutrition group, currently working on the SWAN Collaboration.

I enjoy working in the lab analysing soil samples and out in the field in trials.

My background

Upon graduating from the University of Western Australia, I worked professionally as an agricultural advisor in the private sector for two years where I gained skills in broadacre farming.

I joined CSBP Lab in Bibra Lake as a laboratory technician where I worked for almost two years. I was the lead hand for testing sulphur in soils and pH in soils and water and also conducted micronutrient extraction in plant samples.

I have also worked with DPIRD in a Queensland fruit fly (Q fly) biosecurity response project in Bayswater.

Projects

  • Soil Water and Nutrition (SWAN) Collaboration: Transforming Water and Nutrient Use Efficiency in WA Grain Production (DAW2407-001SPX)
  • Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Decomposition of Crop Residue (QUT2401-001RTX)
  • Enhanced Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilisers in the Grains Industry: Opportunities to Reduce GHG Emissions and Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (UOM2404-007RTX)

Key expertise

Soil science and crop nutrition, soil testing, laboratory techniques, research, field trials preparation, communication with senior research scientists from different locations, field visits, multi-tasking

Qualifications

MSc Agricultural Science (Soil Science and Plant Nutrition), The University of Western Australia

BSc Agricultural Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru