Md Abdul Kader is a soil scientist having a PhD on Applied Biological Science from Ghent University, Belgium. Dr. Kader has more than 25 years teaching and research experiences primarily in the field of Soil Fertility, Soil Organic Matter and Nitrogen Availability to plants at different universities in Asia, Europe and the Pacific. He joined USP in 2017. Prior joining to USP, he worked at the Department of Soil Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh. Currently, he is conducting research on different aspects of soil management in the South Pacific Island countries, composting and vermicomposting and nutrient cycling in taro based cropping systems in addition to his main research interest on soil organic matter and N dynamics in agro-ecosystem. Dr. Kader published more than 80 refereed journal and proceedings papers and 5 book chapters, 54 of which are with high impact factor. He also supervised 6 PhD student and more than 50 Masters student’s research. He also involved in different regional and global professional body in his subject area.

Undergraduate Courses:

• AG124 Fundamental of Soil Science
• AG221: Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
• AG383: Research Skill management

Postgraduate Course:

• AG422 Advanced Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition

Dr. Kader main research interest is carbon and nitrogen dynamics in agro-ecosystem. He also conducts research on the following areas:

• Soil fertility,
• N mineralization in soils,
• C sequestration in soils,
• Soil organic matter (SOM) quality,
• SOM stabilization mechanisms,
• N₂ fixation,
• Agricultural greenhouse gas emission,
• Soil enzyme activities,
• Conservation Agriculture

• Member, The New Zealand Society of Soil Science
• Member, Soil Science Society of Australia
• Member, executive committee, Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council (ASPAC)

• Future Thinkers’ Awards 2023 (Awarded by ACIAR, Australia)
• Bangladesh Agricultural University Teacher Association (BAUTA) best publication Award 2018
• Endeavour Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2015; for conducting Post-Doctoral research at Murdoch University, Australia)

Selected publications

1. Omuto, CT, Vargas, R.R, Scherstjanoi, M., Kader, M. A., Musana, B., Barman, A., Alvarez Jimenez, L.S., Maria, F., Merino Jimenez, W.A., Figueredo, H., Balta, R., Santander, K., Malatji, A., Akhi, A., Kairat, A., Ahmadzai, H., Hebtu, M.E., Morisson, J., Stone, S., Roopnarine, R., Eudoxie, G., Khat, P., Janjirawuttikul, N., Tina, M., Farradas, M., Alferihat, M., Bazarradnaa, E., Desire, K., Jayeoba, J.O., Nyamai, M., Vololonirina, J.R., Abdelmagid, E., Loum, M., Karim, A., Ahmad, W. (2023). Harmonization service and global library of models to support country-driven global information on salt-affected soils. Scientific Reports. 13, 13157 (JCR impact factor 4.997). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40078-9
2. Khan N, Bolan B, Jospeh S, Mai T L A, Meier S, Kookana R, Borchard N, Monedero M A S,  Jindo K, Solaiman M Z, Alrajhi A A, Sarkar B, Basak B B, Wang H, Wong J W C , Manu M K, Kader M A, Wang Q, Li R, Ok Y S, Withana A, Qiu R. (2023) Complementing compost with biochar for agriculture, soil remediation and climate mitigation. Advances in Agronomy. 179, 1-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2023.01.001 (JCR impact factor 9.265)
3. Kader MA, Jahangir, MMR, Islam MR, Begum, MS, Nasreen, MS, Islam, Md. R, Mahmud, AAl., Jahiruddin M, Haque ME, Bell, WR (2022) Long-term Conservation Agriculture increases nitrogen use efficiency by crops, land equivalent ratio and soil carbon stock in a subtropical rice-based cropping system. Fields Crop Research. 287, 108636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2022.108636 (JCR impact factor 6.145)
4. Suruban, C, Kader, MA; Solaiman, ZM. (2022) Influence of selected composted organic amendments and their rates of application on nitrogen mineralization and soil productivity using Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa. var. chinensis) as an indicator crop. Agriculture. 12(2), 201. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020201 (JCR impact factor 2.925)
5. Saha M, Mia S, Biswas AKMAA, Sattar A, Kader MA, Jiang Z (2022) Potential methane mission reduction strategies from rice cultivation systems in Bangladesh: A critical synthesis with global meta-data. Journal of Environmental Management. 310, 114755 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114755 (JCR impact factor 6.789)
6. Mithu MMH, Mia S, Suhi AA, Tahura S, Biswas P, Kader MA, Kassim S, Makino T (2023) Biochar enriched compost elevates mungbean (Vigna radiata) yield under different salt stresses. Crop & Pasture Science 74 (1&2): 79-89. (JCR impact factor 2.29) https://doi.org/10.1071/CP21653

Selected publications

1. Kader MA, Savou V, Ubaub LT, Natuoivi A, Nihmei J, Kalane P, Keileni T, Dean G (2024) Optimizing nutrient management in foodcubes under tropical Island condition with leguminous and sea weeds mulches. NZSSS conference, 2-5 December, 2024, Rotorua, New Zealand. pp. 62 (Oral abstract book).
2. Johnson A, Kader MA, Macdonald B (2024). Assessing soil health indicators and nutrient status between two contrasting agro-ecological zones in Samoa. NZSSS conference, 2-5 December, 2024, Rotorua, New Zealand. pp. 59 (Oral abstract book).
3. Savou V, Kader MA, Titus A, Anterea K, Terurunga M, Wong P, Ubaub LT, Dorin G (2024). Nitrogen Release from Three Leguminous Mulch in Samoan Inceptisols under laboratory incubation. NZSSS conference, 2-5 December, 2024, Rotorua, New Zealand. pp. 126 (Oral abstract book).
4. Fe’ao PC, Kader MA, Antille D (2024). Yield gap analysis of taro in Samoa using Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model. NZSSS conference, 2-5 December, 2024, Rotorua, New Zealand. pp. 26 (Poster abstract book).
5. Kader, M.A., Omuto, C. (2023). Digital assessment of soil acidity and salinity in Samoa. 2023 Soil Science Australia Conference, 25 June-30 June, 2023, Darwin, Australia. pp. 24 (Oral abstract book).

Selected publications

1. Mia S, Suhi A, Makino T, Tawni T, Masud MM, Rahman MM, Kader MA. (2024) Biochar impacts on plant water dynamics under drought and salinity stress In: Latef, AAHA, (ed) Biochar in Mitigating Abiotic Stress in Plants. Elsevier, pp: 87-100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-24137-6.00005-7
2. Kader MA, Mian MJA, Jahangir MMR. (2021). Long term fertilization in subtropical floodplain soil, Bangladesh. In FAO and ITPS (Eds.) Recarbonizing global soils: A technical manual of recommended management practices, Volume 6. Forestry, wetland and urban soils – Case-studies. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. pp: 162-170. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb6605en
3. Alam MK, Bell RW, Haque ME, Kader MA (2021). Conservation Agriculture in intensive rice-based cropping systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plain. In FAO and ITPS (Eds.) Recarbonizing global soils: A technical manual of recommended management practices, Volume 6. Forestry, wetland and urban soils – Case-studies. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. pp:147-161. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb6605en
4. Hossain MA, Strezov V, Akter F, Kader MA, Solaiman ZM (2017) Impact of biochar on soil fertility and behaviour of xenobiotics in soil. In: Hashmi, M Z, Kumar, V, Varma, A (eds.) Xenobiotics in the Soil Environment: Monitoring, Toxicity and Management. Springer International Publishing, p.299-318. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-47744-2_20
5. Kader MA, Sleutel S, D’Haene K, De Neve S, Hofman G (2007). Influence of reduced tillage on soil organic matter fractions in the surface layer of Belgian silty cropland soils. In: Tang, H., Van Ranst, E., Jianjun, Q. (eds.) Simulation of Soil Organic Carbon Storage and Changes in Agricultural Cropland in China and Its Impact on Food Security. China Meteorological Press, Beijing, p.171-177.

Ongoing

• The Agriculture-Tourism Alliance: From Farm to Fork Strategy applied in the Pacific Island Countries (AGRI-TOUR – 101177322 (2024-2027-36 months)): (USP team leader)
• Soil management in Pacific Islands: investigating nutrient dynamics and the utility of soil information for better soil and farming system management (SLAM/2020/139 (2023-2027) (In country team leader)
• Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Systems for Climate Resilient Development in Pacific Island Countries (CLIM/2020/186CROP/2020/186 (2023-2026) (Co-researcher)
• Isolation and molecular characterization of native N₂-fixing bacteria from Pacific Island soils (2021) (SRT related/ 2021) (Principal investigator)