Shikha Sharma

Ms. Shikha Sharma

Plants, Soils and Climate, Utah State University, Logan, New Jersey, USA
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 March 2023 in Corporate Sustainable Management Journal
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Shikha SharmaShikha Sharma
Shikha Sharma
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides a sustainable and ecologically sound approach to address the continuous threat posed by pests in agriculture. This comprehensive review explores the implementation of IPM within agronomic systems, covering a range of strategies such as cultural practices, biological control, host plant resistance, and physical/mechanical control. Cultural practices involve modifying agricultural operations to create an unfavorable environment for insect multiplication and prevent pest population buildup, while biological control utilizes beneficial insects to combat pests. Host plant resistance entails developing crop varieties with inherent resistance to pests, reducing the need for chemical interventions. Physical and mechanical control methods offer eco-friendly alternatives, involving physical barriers and trapping techniques to manage localized pest outbreaks. Decision-making in IPM involves evaluating pest populations, economic thresholds, and phenological forecasts to determine appropriate control measures. Success stories demonstrate the real-world application and potential benefits of IPM in diverse agricultural settings. However, challenges such as limited farmer knowledge and access to resources, as well as resistance management, hinder widespread adoption. Exciting opportunities lie in digital technologies, precision agriculture, biotechnological innovations, and climate-resilient strategies. Strengthened farmer training, public-private collaborations, and informed decision-making are crucial for the successful future of IPM, ensuring sustainable food production and global food security.

17 May 2023 in Reviews In Food And Agriculture
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Shikha SharmaShikha Sharma
Shikha Sharma
Precision agriculture is a rapidly advancing field that combines advanced technologies and data analytics to improve crop productivity and resource management. This article reviews the advancements, technologies, and applications in precision agriculture. It explores the role of sensing technologies, such as remote sensing, ground-based sensors, and GPS/GIS applications, in data collection and analysis for informed decision-making. The article also examines the impact of variable rate technologies, including variable rate seeding, nutrient application, and irrigation, on optimizing input usage and improving crop performance. Furthermore, it discusses the integration of precision crop management techniques, such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), in enhancing farming practices. While precision agriculture offers significant benefits, challenges related to cost, accessibility, data management, and education need to be addressed. It is crucial to overcome these challenges to fully harness the potential of precision agriculture for sustainable and efficient food production. By acknowledging and addressing these challenges, farmers and stakeholders can work towards the widespread adoption of precision agriculture, leading to improved crop productivity, resource management, and environmental sustainability.

13 June 2025 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Shikha SharmaShikha Sharma
Shikha Sharma
MYMatt A. Yost
Matt A. Yost
JRJennifer Reeve
Jennifer Reeve
Water scarcity is a critical challenge in arid and semi-arid regions, where agricultural water consumption accounts for a significant portion of freshwater use. Conventional agriculture (CA) methods with high reliance on chemical and mechanical inputs often exacerbate this issue through soil degradation and water loss. This review aims to examine how different organic practices, such as mulching, cover cropping, composting, crop rotation, and no-till (NT) in combination with precision technologies, can contribute to water optimization, and it discusses the opportunities and challenges for the adoption and implementation of those practices. Previous findings show that organic agriculture (OA) may outperform CA in drought conditions. However, the problems of weed management in organic NT, trade-offs in cover crop biomass and moisture conservation, limited access to irrigation technologies, lack of awareness, and certification barriers challenge agricultural resilience and sustainability. Since the outcomes of OA practices depend on the crop type, local environment, and accessibility of knowledge and inputs, further context-specific research is needed to refine a scalable solution that maintains both productivity and resilience.

24 December 2024 in Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Shikha SharmaShikha Sharma
Shikha Sharma
BKBipana K.C.
Bipana K.C.
Sustainable agriculture, a holistic approach to farming, offers a promising solution to the global challenge of balancing food production with environmental preservation. Sustainability is based on the idea that we should fulfill current needs without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to fulfill their requirements. It involves the farming practices that maintain the health of our land, water, and air while producing sufficient food necessary for the growing population. This comprehensive review explores diverse sustainable agricultural practices essential for balancing productivity, economic viability, and social equity. Key principles of sustainable agriculture, emphasizing environmental health, financial feasibility, and social justice, underpin a multifaceted approach. Permaculture, emphasizing biodiversity and ecosystem regeneration, aligns with nature’s principles. Crop rotation and diversification mitigate pests and diseases, and enhance soil health. Water management through techniques like drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting optimizes water usage. Innovative practices including aquaponics, hydroponics, vertical farming, and agroforestry ensure year-round, efficient food production. Climate-smart agriculture adapts to climate change, while precision agriculture enhances resource efficiency. Organic farming, relying on natural processes, offers a sustainable alternative to conventional methods. Challenges like excessive chemical usage, climate-related disruptions, and knowledge gaps persist despite promising outcomes. Overcoming these hurdles requires collaborative efforts, policy support, and education initiatives. Sustainable agriculture represents the path toward a resilient and food-secure future for our growing global population.

24 August 2024 in Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Shikha SharmaShikha Sharma
Shikha Sharma
The global population is increasing at a rapid pace, posing significant challenges to sustainable development and food security. This review paper examines the advantages and challenges of organic farming as a potential solution to address the pressing issues in modern agriculture and food production. Organic farming offers a range of benefits, including improved soil fertility, higher profitability, reduced external input usage, land reclamation, improved market access, and enhanced farmer capacity and self-reliance. Organic farming practices prioritize environmental sustainability by reducing chemical usage and reliance on biological methods of pest control, as well as enhancing biodiversity, which strengthens ecological balance and resilience against pests and diseases. However, organic farming also faces challenges that need to be addressed for its widespread adoption. These challenges include uncertainty surrounding legislative environments, psychological and sociological costs of conversion, financial risks during the transition period, securing marketing channels for organic produce, and diminishing profit margins. Efforts should be made to provide farmers with the necessary support, including technical assistance, subsidies, and access to markets, to overcome these challenges. Despite the challenges, the potential of organic farming in promoting sustainable agriculture and ensuring a secure food system cannot be overlooked. It offers a natural and environmentally friendly approach to food production, prioritizing the health of both humans and the ecosystem.

28 February 2025 in Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Shikha SharmaShikha Sharma
Shikha Sharma
SNSrijana Neupane
Srijana Neupane
Agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy, providing livelihoods for a significant portion of population. However, climate change significantly affects people, their lifestyles, and the ecosystems posing a critical challenge to the global community, particularly the underprivileged in developing nations. Recognizing the indispensable role of agriculture and the challenges posed by a changing climate, this paper emphasizes the paramount need for proactive adaptation strategies. Central to these strategies is the pivotal concept of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), a multifaceted approach that encompasses a range of practices, including agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and the adoption of climate-resilient crop varieties. Delving deeper, the paper navigates through the farmer's perceptions, unraveling their understanding of climate change, and the complex barriers like social barriers, institutional limitations, financial barriers, and limited awareness that impede effective adaptation, and illuminates the instrumental roles that governmental bodies and institutions, and extension agents play in shaping and fostering climate-resilient practices. Collaboration between local communities, governments, and non-governmental organizations is essential to ensure the successful implementation of sustainable adaptation strategies. Embracing sustainable and forward-thinking approaches, particularly CSA, including agroforestry, conservation agriculture, water management techniques, climate-resilient crop varieties, ICT, and climate-smart pest management, the agricultural sector gains the potential to bolster its resilience against climate-induced disruptions, ensuring consistent agricultural output that contributes significantly to broader food security initiatives.