Dr. Surendra Bhattarai

Education:

• Ph.D. Plant Science, 2020, University of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada
• M.Sc. Plant Science, 2017, University of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada
• B.Sc. Agriculture, 2013, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

 

Research Interests:

My research focuses on improving the sustainability and productivity of Wyoming’s forage and livestock industries through applied research and extension. My primary focus lies in forage agronomy and breeding with particular emphasis on improving both grass and legume forage species for western US conditions. Through extension programs, I collaborate with producers to apply my findings.

 

Teaching:

• PLNT 4700/5700 - Forage Crop Science

 

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications:

Bhattarai, S., Sbatella, G., Claypool, D. A., Beiermann, C. W., Kniss, A. R. 2026. Sainfoin stand termination: Variable herbicide efficacy in field conditions. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 9: e70371.https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70371

 

Omokanye, A. T., Bhattarai, S., Hernandez Ramirez, G., Azuhnwi, B., Zavala, Y., Gyamfi, H., Shrestha, B. 2026. Multifunctionality of annual forage crop mixtures for improved biomass, beef cattle diets, and soil health outcomes. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 9: e70325.https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70325

 

Yamauchi, M., Bhattarai, S., Tanino, K. K., Rahman, A., Biligetu, B. 2026. A comparative study on plant growth and ion accumulation between alfalfa and hybrid wheatgrass under salt stress. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 9: e70367. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70367

 

Omokanye, A., Bhattarai, S., Sreekumar, L., Hernandez-Ramirez, G., Lee, A. 2026. Forage yield and nutritional values of forage-type cereal mixtures for beef cattle diets. Journal of Crop Improvement. 40(3): 303–319. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2026.2655259

 

Bhattarai, S., Honari, M., Fu, Y.-B., Biligetu, B. 2026. RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals Differentially Expressed Genes Linked to Seed Size Variation in Sainfoin. Grassland Science. 72(2): 123–133. https://doi.org/10.1111/grs.70026

 

Wang, H., Lundel, S., Bhattarai, S., Biligetu, B. 2025. De novo transcriptome assembly and candidate gene discovery for high seedling vigor in cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.). Crop Science. 65:e70177. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70177

 

Bhattarai, S., Poudel, H.P., Anderson, N.P., Yoder, C. 2025. Plant growth regulator effects on seed yield of timothy. Crop Science. 65:e70179. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70179

 

Bhattarai, S., Khanal, N., Anderson, N.P., Yoder, C. 2024. Plant growth regulator effects on red fescue seed crops in diverse production environments. Crop Science. 64 (6): 3608-3618. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21386

 

Bhattarai, S., Wang, H., Poudel, H., Biligetu, B. 2024. Evaluating effectiveness of clonal plant selection of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) in mixed stand: Mean performance and stability in a multi-environment trial. Plant Breeding. 143(5):713–724. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.13194

 

Poudel, H., Bhattarai, S., Singer, S., Biligetu, B., Acharya, S. 2023. An insight into sainfoin breeding: challenges and achievements. Agronomy Journal. 115: :2843–2858. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21439

 

Bhattarai, S., Lundell, S., and Biligetu, B. 2022. Effect of sodium chloride salt on germination, growth, and elemental composition of alfalfa cultivars with contrasting tolerance to salinity. Agronomy. 12:2516. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102516

 

Bhattarai, S., Fu, Y.B., Coulman, B., Tanino, K.K., Karunakaran, C., and Biligetu, B. 2021. Transcriptomic analysis of differentially expressed genes in leaves and roots of two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars with different salt tolerance. BMC Plant Biology. 21:446. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-03201-4

 

Bhattarai, S., Liu, N., Karunakaran, C., Tanino, K.K., Fu, Y.B., Coulman, B., Warkentin, T., and Biligetu, B. 2021. Tissue specific changes in elements and organic compounds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars differing in salt tolerance under salt stress. Journal of Plant Physiology. 264:153485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153485

 

Bhattarai, S., Biswas, D., Fu, Y.B., and Biligetu, B. 2020. Morphological, Physiological, and Genetic Responses to Salt Stress in Alfalfa: A Review. Agronomy. 10(4):577. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10040577

 

Li, P., Bhattarai, S., Peterson, G.W., Coulman, B., Schellenberg, M.P., Biligetu, B., and Fu, Y.B. 2018. Genetic diversity of northern wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus) as revealed by genotyping-by-sequencing. Diversity. 10(2): 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/d10020023

 

Bhattarai, S., and Biligetu, B. 2018. Effects of seed size, seed pod removal and temperature on seed germination of Onobrychis viciifolia. Seed Science and Technology. 46(1): 113–117. https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2018.46.1.11

 

Bhattarai, S., Coulman, B., Beattie, A.D., and Biligetu, B. 2018. Assessment of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) germplasm for agro-morphogical traits and nutritive value. Grass and Forage Science. 73: 958–966. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12372

 

Bhattarai, S., Coulman, B., Fu, Y.B., Beattie, A. D., and Biligetu, B. 2017. Genetic diversity and relationship of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) germplasm as revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. Canadian Journal of Plant Sciences. 98(3): 543–551. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2017-0094

 

Bhattarai, S., Coulman, B., and Biligetu, B. 2016. Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.): Renewed interest as a forage legume for western Canada. Canadian Journal of Plant Sciences. 96(5): 748–756. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2015-0378