Bijesh Maharjan, associate professor and Extension specialist at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center, will be officially honored with the Ray and Jolene Ward Professor of Soil Health Science on Sept. 24 at the 2026 Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Distinguished Faculty Celebration.
The inaugural professorship honors Ray and the late Jolene Ward for their longstanding contributions to the university’s agriculture programs; it recognizes an accomplished scientist who translates their research into practice through outreach, engagement and Extension activities that make a difference in agricultural practice.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition; it further motivates me to remain committed to improving soil health on managed lands across Nebraska and beyond,” Maharjan said. “I have had the privilege of knowing Ray Ward personally and have frequently sought his advice and wisdom over the years. Receiving an award that bears his name makes this recognition especially meaningful to me.
“I am deeply grateful to the mentors, collaborators, colleagues and team members who have contributed to my journey, and I am proud to share this recognition with all of them.”
Maharjan and Ward will be honored by the department on Sept. 24 at 11:15 a.m., before Maharjan presents a special seminar, “Soil Health and Nutrient Management: Bridging Research to Education and Extension,” as part of the Agronomy and Horticulture seminar series in 150 Keim Hall on East Campus.
The Ward legacy
The Wards founded Ward Laboratories, Inc. in 1983 to provide high-quality, analytical results that help customers make informed decisions about their operations, but Ray Ward’s impact extends beyond laboratory data. He is a tireless advocate for sustainable soil management and promotes practices that enhance soil health, conserve resources and improve long-term productivity. Ward’s numerous honors — including recognition from the Soil Science Society of America, the Nebraska Farm Bureau Silver Eagle Award and induction into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement — attest to his service and leadership in soil health and fertility.
Connecting soil health research with Nebraska producers
Maharjan focuses his efforts on soil health through the Soil Health Gap and the Soil Health Cycle — two instrumental concepts in the development of Soil Health Science.
In 2020, Maharjan proposed the concept of the Soil Health Gap as a framework for comparing cropland soil health with a native reference site; his team also developed the Cropland Reference Ecological Unit, using soil and weather characteristics to define appropriate areas for site comparisons. Together, these approaches have helped Nebraska quantify soil health gaps and prioritize conservation practices that most effectively regenerate soil function under local conditions. His team also developed the Soil Health Cycle, an iterative framework that integrates human dimensions, management practices, soil health indicators and ecosystem service outcomes to guide soil health improvement.
His leadership helped establish the Nebraska Soil Health School, which brings together USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service experts, university scientists and producers for hands-on demonstrations and discussions about cover crops, tillage, water infiltration, soil biology, economics and environmental stewardship. From 2023-24, the school was held at seven locations and reached 600 stakeholders; in 2025, it evolved into an on-demand program tailored to the soil health needs of individual producers.
Maharjan has also worked to address soil health challenges in the Panhandle; most recently, he partnered with NRCS to study cover crops in dryland farming and has promoted improved nutrient management in sugar beet production by demonstrating that reduced nitrogen fertilizer rates can maintain yield and quality while reducing environmental impacts.
“The department is immensely grateful for Ray Ward’s longstanding support of agriculture and his unwavering commitment to advancing soil health in Nebraska,” said Martha Mamo, department head and John E. Weaver Professor of Agronomy and Horticulture. “This professorship recognizes Dr. Ward’s passion for strengthening Nebraska’s agriculture and Bijesh Maharjan’s leadership in advancing soil health as a cornerstone of productive and resilient agricultural systems.
“Dr. Maharjan’s innovative, purpose-driven research — particularly the development of the Soil Health Gap approach — and his exceptional ability to build partnerships across Nebraska and beyond make this recognition especially fitting.
