Shrinivasa K. Upadhyaya, Professor

Photo of Shrinivasa K. Upadhyaya

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
3036 Bainer Hall
Phone: 530-752-8770
Email:skupadhyaya@ucdavis.edu












Current research activities are focused in the area of sensor and instrumentation development for precision agriculture, soil dynamics, mathematical modeling, and surface irrigation management. A few of the on-going research activities are:

(i) Precision canopy and water management in specialty crop production: In this project we are developing a sensor suite for plant water stress detection and a photosythetically active radiation (PAR) absorption measurement system for sensing canopy architecture. The senor suite is being evaluated in almonds, walnuts and grapes. We plan to use this information to map spatial variability in plant water status and deploy a variable rate irrigation management scheme to conserve water, improve quantity and/or quality of products. The PAR absorption system has been used extensively in almonds, walnuts (California), and to a limited extent in hazelnuts (Oregon). Attempts are being made to relate this PAR absorption information to crop yield. Moreover, we are trying to use this information to determine canopy management practices that would allow the grower to achieve potential yield and/or enhance quality of products. With the cooperation of researchers in Arizona and Washington, we plan to test similar systems in apples, cherries, and pecans,

(ii) Wetting front monitoring system for surface irrigation management: We have developed a monitoring system and communication network that can monitor wetting front advance in border irrigated checks and wirelessly transmit the information to irrigators through cell phone text message to improve water use efficiency and reduce tail drainage, and

(iii) Distinct Element Modeling (DEM) of Soil- tine interaction: Research in this area includes the development of a DEM model for soil-blade/soil-cone interaction that has been successfully used to determine soil parameters for use in soil-machine interaction studies.

Education

Ph.D., Agricultural Engineering, Cornell University, 1979.

Teaching

  • ABT150 GPS componen of Introduction to GIS
  • ABT101 Engine Technology
  • EBS265 Deign and Analysis of Engineering Experiments
  • EBS270 Mathematical Modeling of Physical and Biological Process
  • EBS215 Soil-Machine Relations in TIllage and Traction
  • EBS130 Dynamic Modeling of Processes in Biological Systems

    • Scientific and Professional Societies

    American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
    International Society for Terrain Vehicle Systems(ISTVS)
    International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA)

    Research Support

    USDA, NIFA, Specialty Crop Research Initiative,
    USDA, NRI,
    USDA SBIR,
    US Army Research Office (ARO),
    US ARO STTR,
    California Energy Commission (CEC),
    Department of Water Resources (DWR),
    US-ISRAEL Binational Agricultural Research and Development (BARD) Fund,
    Armstrong Tire and Rubber Co.,
    Caterpillar Inc.,
    Chevron,
    Deere and Co. ,
    Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.,
    New Holland of America,
    Moring Star Co.,
    Trimble Navigation Ltd. ,
    California Tomato Research Institute,
    Almond Board of California,
    California Walnut Board,
    Kearney Foundation of Soil Science,
    UC Discovery Grant.

    Representative Recent Publications

    Ehsani, M. R., S. K. Upadhyaya, and M. L. Mattson. 2003. Seed location mapping using RTK GPS. Trans. ASAE 47930;909-914
    Jahn, B. R., R. Linker, and S. K. Upadhyaya, A. Shavis, D. C. Slaughter, I. Shmulevich. 2006. Mid-infrared spectroscopic determination of soil nitrate content. Biosystems Eng. 94(4):505-515.
    Andrade-Sanchez, P., S. K. Upadhyaya, C. Plouffe, and B. Poutre. 2008. Development and field eveluation of a field-ready soil compaction profile sensor for real-time applications. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 24(6):743-750.
    Upadhyaya, S. K., W. J. Chancellor, J. V. Perumpral, R. L. Schafer, W. R. Gill, and G. E. VandenBerg (Editors). 1994. Advances in Soil Dynamics, Vol. 1. American Society of Agricultural Engineers Monograph Number 12. 313 pp.
    Upadhyaya, S. K., W. J. Chancellor, J. V. Perumpral, R. L. Schafer, W. R. Gill, and G. E. VandenBerg (Editors). 2000. Advances in Soil Dynamics, Vol. II. American Society of Agricultural Engineers Monograph, ASAE, St. Joseph, MI 49085. 294 pp.
    Upadhyaya, S. K., W. J. Chancellor, J. V. Perumpral, R. L. Schafer, W. R. Gill, and T. R. Way (Editors). 2009. Advances in Soil Dynamics, Vol. III. American Society of Agricultural Engineers Monograph, ASAE, St. Joseph, MI 49085 490pp.
    Upadhyaya, S. K, V. Udompetailkul, S. K. Shafii and G. T. Browne. 2009. Design, Development and Evaluation of a Tree Planting-Site-Specific Fumigant applicator. Acta Horticulture . 824:281-288.
    Saha, R., S. K. Upadhyaya, W. W. Wallender, and D. C. Slaughter. 2010. Inverse solution of soil-water transport model parameters using response surface methodology. Trans. ASABE. 53(4):1137-1145.
    Upadhyaya, S. K., D. K. Giles, S. Haneklaus, and E. Schnug. 2010. Advanced engineering systems for specialty crops: A review of Precision Agriculture for water, chemical, nutrient application, and yield monitoring. Author and editor. vTi Special Issue 340. 88p.
    Saha, R., N. S. Raghuwanshi, S. K. Upadhyaya, W. W. Wallander, and D. C. Slaughter. 2011. A sensor based cellular communication system to implement cutoff irrigation in alfalfa. Cal. Agr. 65(4):202-207.
    Tanaka, H, S. K. Upadhyaya, V. Udompetaikul, R. Saha, and L. Garciano. 2009. Development of a Mechanical Model for Cohesive, Plastic Behavior of Soil by the Distinct Element Method. ASABE paper No. 095946. ASABE, St. Joseph, MI 49085.
    Udompetailkul, V, S. K. Upadhyaya, D. C. Slaughter, B. D. Lampinen, and K. Shackel. 2011. Plant water stress dection using leaf temperature and microclimatic