Research interests:
As a crop scientist and agricultural systems modeler, my research focuses on understanding dynamic interactions within agroecological systems, particularly soil‑plant‑environment interfaces, modelling, digital tool development, and designing adaptation and mitigation strategies to combat climate change and enhance food security.Research focuses and activities:
- Model-based understanding and improvements in function and mechanisms of tropical plant production systems especially G×E×M interactions (focus: drought, heat, nitrogen)- Quantification of ecosystem services in inter-cropping and agroforestry systems across tropics (field measurements and modelling)
- Development and application of crop models to understand physiological processes and to assess the consequences of climate change at different scales (field, farm, region)
- Application of advanced phenotyping techniques to identify drought-resistant varieties for adaptation to climate change
- Model-based assessment of land use and management strategies for nutrient pollution
- Development of strategies for soil organic carbon enhancement, and optimization of soil-water-nutrient dynamics, targeting both short- and long-term sustainability.
- Digital Farming / development and application of AI and ML tools in agriculture
- Climate smart technologies development for sustainable production to reduce vulnerability to food security
Publications:
Ur-Rahman, M.H., Hussain, I., Ikram, R. M., Hussain, M. B., Hoffmann, M., and Roetter, R. P. (2025) Silicon seed inoculation improves growth, physiological mechanisms, grain and biological yields in maize hybrids under heat stress at vegetative and tasseling stages, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15934, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15934.Munawar, S., Ikram, R.M., Roetter, R.P., Hussain, I., Afzal, M., Ghazy, A.H., Ahmad, S., Ur-Rahman, M. H. (2025) Silicon seed inoculation enhances antioxidants, physiology and yield of hybrid maize under heat stress. BMC Plant Biology 25, 417. DOI: 10.1186/s12870-025-06399-9. Open Access (corresponding authorship)
Hakim, A., Srivastava, A.K., Hamza, A., Owais, M., ur-Rahman, M. H., Qadri, S., Qayyum, M.A., Khan, F.Z.A., Mahmood, M.T., Gaiser, T. (2025) Yolo-pest: an optimized YoloV8x for detection of small insect pests using smart traps. Scientific Reports 15, 14029. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-97825-3. Open Access
Raza, A., Vianna, M. S., Ahmadi, S. H., ur-Rahman, M.H., Gaiser, T. (2024) Comparison of predictive modeling approaches to estimate soil erosion under spatially heterogeneous field conditions. Environmental Modelling and Software, 180, 106145 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106145. Open Access
Ur-Rahman, M.H., Ahrends, H., Raza, A., Gaiser, T. (2023) Current approaches for modeling ecosystem services and biodiversity in agroforestry systems: Challenges and ways forward. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 5:1032442, DOI: 10.3389/ffgc.2022.1032442. Open Access (corresponding authorship)
Hakeem, S., Ali, Z., Saddique, M.A.B., Merrium, S., Arslan, M., Ur-Rahman, M. H. (2023). Leaf wettability and leaf angle affect air-moisture deposition in wheat for self-irrigation. BMC Plant Biology 23, 115. DOI:10.1186/s12870-023-04123-z. Open Access (corresponding authorship)
Yasin, M., Ahmad, A., Khaliq, T. Ur-Rahman, M. H., Niaz, S., Gaiser, T., Ghafoor, I., Hassan, H.S., Qasim, M., Hoogenboom, G. (2022). Climate change impact uncertainty assessment and adaptations for sustainable maize production using multi-crop and climate models. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29, 18967–18988. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17050-z Open Access (corresponding authorship)
Ur-Rahman, M.H., Ahmad, A., Raza, A., Hasnain, M.U., Alharby, H.F., Alzahrani Y.M., Bamagoos, A.A., Hakeem, K.R., Ahmad, S., Nasim, W., Ali, S., Mansour, F., EL-Sabagh, A. (2022) Impact of climate change on agricultural production; Issues, challenges, and opportunities in Asia. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13:925548. DOI:10.3389/fpls.2022.925548. Open Access (corresponding authorship)
Ur-Rahman, M.H., Raza, A., Ahrends, H., Hugging, H., Gaiser, T. (2022) Impact of in-field soil heterogeneity on biomass and yield of winter triticale in an intensively cropped hummocky landscape under temperate climate conditions. Precision Agriculture. DOI: /10.1007/s11119-021-09868-x. Open Access (corresponding authorship)
Ghafoor, I., ur-Rahman, M.H., Hasnain, M.U., Ikram, R.M., Khan, M.A., Iqbal, R., Hussain, M. I., EL-Sabagh, A. (2022). Effect of slow-release nitrogenous fertilizers on dry matter accumulation, grain nutritional quality, water productivity and wheat yield under an arid environment. Scientific Reports 12, 14783. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18867-5. Open Access (corresponding authorship)
Merrium, S., Ali, Z., Ur-Rahman, M. H., Hakeem, S., Khalid, M.A. (2022) Leaf rolling and leaf angle improve fog capturing and transport in wheat; adaptation for drought stress in an arid climate. Botanical Studies 63, 13, DOI:10.1186/s40529-022-00343-y. Open Access (corresponding authorship)
Saboor, A., Ali, M.A., Danish, S., Ahmed, N., Fahad, S., Datta, R., Ansari, M.J., Nasif, O., ur-Rahman, M.H., Glick, B.R. (2021) Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the physiological functioning of maize under zinc-deficient soils. Scientific Reports 11, 18468 (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97742-1 Open Access
Saddique, Q., Khan, M.I., ur-Rahman, M.H., Jiatun, X., Waseem, M., Gaiser, T., Mohsin, M.W., Ahmad, I., Chong, L., Cai, H. (2020) Effects of Elevated Air Temperature and CO2 on Maize Production and Water Use Efficiency under Future Climate Change Scenarios in Shaanxi Province, China. Atmosphere. 2020; 11(8):843. DOI: 10.3390/atmos11080843 Open Access
Ur-Rahman, M.H., Ahmad, A., Wajid, A., Hussain, M., Rasul, F., Ishaque, W., Vakhtang, S., Awais, M., Wahid, A., Sultana S.R.S., Saud, S., Khan, S., Fahad, S., Hussain, S., Nasim, W. (2019) Application of CSM-CROPGRO-cotton model for cultivars and optimum planting dates: evaluation in changing semi-arid climate. Field Crop Research 238, 139–152. DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2017.07.007 (corresponding authorship)
Khan, A., Fahad, S., Khan, A., Saud, S., Adnan, M., Wahid, F., Noor, M., Nasim, W., Hammad, H.M., Bakhat, H.F., Ahmad, S., Ur-Rahman, M.H., Wang, D., Sönmez, O. (2019) Managing tillage operation and manure to restore soil carbon stocks in wheat–maize cropping system. Agronomy Journal, 111 (5), 2600-2609. DOI: 10.2134/agronj2019.02.0100. Open Access
Ur-Rahman, M.H., Ahmad, A., Wang, X., Wajid, A., Nasim, W., Hussain, M., Ahmad, B., Ali, Z., Ishaque, W., Shelia, V., Shakeel, A., Fahad, S., Ullah, H., Hoogenboom, G. (2018) Multi-model projections of future climate and climate change impacts uncertainty assessment for cotton production in Pakistan. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 253, 94-113, DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2018.02.008 (corresponding authorship)
Abbas, G., Ahmad, S., Ahmad, A., Nasim, W., Fatima, Z., Hussain, S., ur-Rahman, M.H., Khan, M.A., Hasanuzzaman, M., Fahad, S., Boote, K.J., Hoogenboom, G. (2017) Quantification the impacts of climate change and crop management on phenology of maize-based cropping system in Punjab, Pakistan. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 247, 42–55. DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2017.07.012