Md Mazadul Islam is a passionate PhD candidate at Western Sydney University Hawkesbury Campus, working on FFSCRC’s ‘Sustainable fertigation’ project under the guidance of Professor Zhonghua Chen. His research is focused on finding effective fertigation methods for high-tech greenhouse vegetables that improves water and nutrient use efficiency. Mazadul’s journey to his current role began with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and an MS in Horticulture from the esteemed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Bangladesh. He then pursued a second master’s degree in plant sciences from the world-renowned Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands. This educational journey provided him with a solid foundation in agronomy, soil science, horticulture, plant breeding, and plant physiology.
Mazadul has been working as an agricultural scientist at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) since 2013. During this time, he was involved in various research projects that focused on sustainable agriculture practices. This fuelled his interest in pursuing further studies in this field, where he gained valuable experience in designing experiments, collecting data, and analysing results. His exposure to various research methodologies allowed him to develop his skills in data analysis and scientific writing. As a PhD student, Mazadul is continuing his research on sustainable agriculture practices, with a focus on fertigation. His research involves studying the effectiveness of potassium fertilizers in producing high-quality vegetables while minimizing the use of water and fertilizers. Mazadul’s research has the potential to have a significant impact on the greenhouse industry, as sustainable practices are becoming increasingly important in meeting the growing demand for food while minimizing the impact on the environment. Mazadul is also committed to sharing his research findings with farmers, policymakers, and the public to raise awareness about the benefits of sustainable agriculture practices. His dedication to making a difference in the field of protective horticulture, along with his extensive experience and educational background, make him a promising young researcher.
