Shital Poudyal

Plants, Soils and Climate

Assistant Professor | Ornamental Horticulture Specialist


Shital Poudyal

Contact Information

Office Location: Logan Campus | AGRS 337
Phone: 435-797-1295
Email: shital.poudyal@usu.edu

Educational Background

Other, College Teaching, Michigan State University, 2020
PhD, Horticulture, Michigan State University, 2020
MS, Agronomy, University of Wyoming, 2015
BS, Agriculture, Tribhuvan University, 2011

Expertise

Horticulture, Plant Physiology, Water Conservation, Water Quality, Sustainability

Biography

Dr. Poudyal received his doctoral degree from Michigan State University in 2020. His research focuses on developing sustainable management practices for landscape and nursery plants, emphasizing water conservation. He aims to evaluate and understand physiological, morphological, and biochemical responses of various ornamentals subjected to irrigation with unconventional water sources and develop effective techniques to protect surface and groundwater resources by reducing agrochemicals runoff. He collaborates with various public and private entities to share knowledge on water conservation and conservative irrigation practices.

Research Interests

Dr. Poudyal aims to develop best management practices on efficient irrigation of landscape nursery plants, identify and promote unconventional water sources for irrigation and protect surface and groundwater quality by lowering agrochemicals runoff.

Awards

Extension Innovation Award, 2025

Utah State University Extension Specialist Association

Specialist Partner Award, 2025

Extension Specialist Association, Utah State University

ASHS Leadership Academy – Class IV, 2024

American Society of Horticultural Sciences

Outstanding Webinar Series Award (“Water Well with CWEL”), 2024

American Society of Horticultural Sciences (ASHS), Extension Division

Finalist, Early Career Competition Award, 2023

American Society for Horticultural Sciences

New Specialist Award, 2023

Utah State University Extension Specialists Association

Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas outstanding service award, 2022

Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas


Publications | Abstracts

    An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Publications | Books

        Publications | Book Chapters

      An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

      Publications | Fact Sheets

      • Cottam, M., Becker, K., Stemmler, K., Poudyal, S., Crump , W., Kogan, L., Hotaling, S., (2025). Reducing Residential Landscape Water Use in Utah: Technologies and Strategies.

      An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

      Publications | Journal Articles

      Academic Journal

      An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

      Publications | MultiMedia

      An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

      Publications | Technical Reports

      Research Reports

        An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

        Publications | Other

        An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

        Extension

        Applied Ornamental Horticulture Research and Extension, 2022 - Ongoing
        Advancing Water-Wise Landscaping and Increasing Irrigation Efficiency in Utah, 2021 - Ongoing
        Empowering Homeowners, Gardeners and professionals for Sustainable Landscapes:, 2021 - Ongoing
        Innovations in Sustainable Nursery Production and Resource Management, 2021 - Ongoing
        Strengthening the Green Industry Workforce Through Education and Training, 2021 - Ongoing

        Graduate Students Mentored

        Zirui Wang, Plants, Soils, and Climate
        Saroj Burlakoti, Plants, Soils, and Climate, January 2024
        Anju Chaudhary, Plants, Soils, and Climate, September 2022
        Jenny Koller, Plants, Soils, and Climate, January 2022 - May 2025
        Saroj Burlakoti, Plants, Soils, and Climate, January 2022 - December 2023