UConn Extension is pleased to introduce Dr. Avishesh Neupane, who joined us in August 2025 as Assistant Extension Professor and Director of the UConn Plant & Soil Health Center. In just a few months, Dr. Neupane has been busy connecting with growers, developing new decision tools, and preparing for the launch of the George Leigh Minor Plant & Soil Health Center in 2026. Originally from Nepal and now based in South Windsor, Connecticut, Dr. Neupane’s journey with soil science began on his family’s farm in rural Nepal; “Working that land taught me how soil underpins daily life and sparked the path I am on today,” he says.
Dr. Neupane holds a master’s degree in environmental science from the Yale School of the Environment and a Ph.D. in geography from UCLA. His postdoctoral work includes research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and at Bayer Crop Science, where he studied soil nutrient dynamics and their effects on crop yield and climate outcomes.
As Director of the UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory and the upcoming George Leigh Minor Plant & Soil Health Center, Dr. Neupane is focused on translating soil test data into practical, science-based recommendations for Connecticut farmers and homeowners. He collaborates with partners across the Northeast on soil test calibration and decision tools that make test results easier to use. His outreach programs cover soil fertility, compost, fertilizer management, and amendments for crops, pastures, and lawns.
Since joining Extension, Dr. Neupane has enjoyed seeing how data can drive on-the-ground change. “I enjoy turning data into action, especially when it builds healthier, more resilient soils,” he explains. “Extension lets me connect those practices to clear outcomes: better soil structure and infiltration, steadier plant nutrition, fewer nutrient losses to water, and more carbon stored in the soil.”
Dr. Neupane emphasizes that soil testing is one of the most powerful and affordable tools available to anyone working with land. “Read the numbers, set clear thresholds, and make small, targeted changes,” he says. “That’s how you protect yields, save money, and build healthier soils.” He is developing decision tools that link soil test results directly to management actions—such as applying lime when pH is low, refining fertilizer timing, or using compost and biochar to improve soil health and carbon storage. When he’s not studying soil, Dr. Neupane enjoys hiking in Connecticut’s state parks, visiting orchards and farmers’ markets, and listening to nonfiction audiobooks.
About the George Leigh Minor Plant & Soil Health Center
Opening in April 2026, the new center will unite soil testing, plant and turf diagnostics, and the Home & Garden Education Center under one roof. The goal is to provide growers and homeowners with accessible, plain-language guidance backed by research. The Center will also serve as a hub for student learning and applied research focused on healthy plants and soil for households, farms, and towns across Connecticut.