Dr Aakansha Chadha

Research Fellow

Dr Aakansha Chadha is a researcher in agriculture and environmental science with experience in research data management, weed science and soil science. She holds a PhD in Environmental Science from Federation University Australia, with doctoral research focused on the ecology and management of an invasive weed. Her current research has a strong focus on the Online Farm Trials (OFT) platform, where she works as an agriculture domain expert supporting the quality, availability and usability of grains research trial data. She works closely with grower groups, research organisations and universities to improve access to research data and support evidence based decision-making across the grains industry.

Aakansha also contributes to research on soil performance indicators, examining locally relevant soil measures, production constraints and their links to management and farm business decisions. Her expertise in weed science spans the biology, ecology and management of agricultural and environmental weeds, including the development and evaluation of practical weed management strategies. Her work brings together agricultural science, research data and industry knowledge to deliver practical outcomes for growers and the broader agricultural sector.

Email: a.chadha@federation.edu.au
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6237-8362

Profile
Publications

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Federation University Australia (Confirmed: 2022)
- Thesis title: Ecology and management of a tropical invasive weed, Cyperus aromaticus (Navua sedge) in Queensland, Australia.
Bachelor of Science (Honours), Federation University Australia (2018)
- Thesis title: Influence of selected environmental factors and different soil moisture regimes on seed germination and growth of agricultural weed Lactuca serriola L.
Master of Science (Plant Biotechnology), Mumbai University (2007)
Bachelor of Science (Botany and Plant Biotechnology), Mumbai University (2005)

Professional affiliations

The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA)
Ecological Society of Australia (ESA)

Publications

Chadha, A., Robinson, N., & Channon, J. (2026). Towards Data-Driven Decisions in Agriculture - A Proposed Data Quality Framework for Grains Trials Research. Data, 11(1), 19. doi.org/10.3390/data11010019

Chadha, A., Robinson, N., Ollerenshaw, A., & Larkins, J. (2026). Assessing Soil Indicator Practices: Determinants and Variations Among Australian Farmers. Soil Use and Management, 42( 1). e70196. doi.org/10.1111/sum.70196

Ollerenshaw, A., Robinson, N., & Chadha, A. (2026). Trusted Information Sources and Preferred Delivery Methods for Soil Indicator Information Among Farmers, Advisors, and Researchers. Sustainability, 18(15), 7731. doi.org/10.3390/su18157731

Osunkoya, O.O., Shi, B., Chadha, A., Perrett, C., Florentine, S., & Dhileepan, K. (2026). Soil and plant chemical profiles of invasive Cyperus aromaticus (Cyperaceae) and co-occurring pasture species across land-use types: potential implications for invasion and plant–soil feedbacks. Australian Journal of Botany 74, BT25032. doi.org/10.1071/BT25032

Warnakulasuriya, R., Shahzad, B., Adnan, M., Chadha, A., Farooq, M., Bajwa, A. (2026) Morphological and physiological adaptations underpin drought resilience in contrasting populations of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum). Scientific Reports 16, 23562. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-61108-2

Bajwa, A.A., Chadha, A., & Grant, B. (2025). Are Our Weeds Changing? A Survey of Stakeholders from the Australian Grain Production Systems. Weed Science. Published online 2025:1-36. doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2025.16

Ollerenshaw, A., Robinson, N., Chadha, A., & Channon, J. (2024). A smart agriculture information system delivering research data for adoption by the Australian grains industry. Smart Agricultural Technology, 100610. doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2024.100610

Robinson, N., Chadha, A., & Ollerenshaw, A. (2024). Matching soil performance indicators to Australian farming systems. Centennial of the International Union of Soil Science, 19-21 May, 2024, Florence Italy. Conference Abstract Book: drive.google.com/file/d/1mcbITzR1wfY1b4vLAaceHAyg_y_K3vzq/view?pli=1

Robinson, N., Ollerenshaw, A., Chadha, A. & Dahlhaus, P. (2024). Soil indicator choices in Australian farming systems. Joint NZ Society of Soil Science and Soil Science Australia 2024 Conference, 2 - 5 December, 2024, Rotorua, NZ.

Robinson, N., Ollerenshaw, A., Chadha, A., Senanayake, I., Yeo, I-Y., Dahlhaus, P., & Hancock, G. (2024). Matching soil performance indicators to farming systems. Project 2.1.006. Final Report. Cooperative Research Centre for High Performance Soils (Soil CRC). 96p.

Ollerenshaw, A., Thompson, H., Robinson, N., & Chadha, A. (2023). Online Farm Trials. Impact Research Report September 2023. 19 September, Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation, Federation University Australia. 31p.

Chadha, A., Florentine, S. K., Dhileepan, K., & Turville, C. (2022). Assessing seed longevity of the invasive weed Navua Sedge (Cyperus aromaticus), by artificial ageing. Plants, 11(24), 3469. doi.org/10.3390/plants11243469

Chadha, A., Florentine, S. K., Dhileepan, K., & Turville, C. (2022). Effect of rhizome fragment length and burial depth on the emergence of a tropical invasive weed Cyperus aromaticus (Navua Sedge). Plants, 11(23), 3331. doi.org/10.3390/plants11233331

Chadha, A., Florentine, S. K., Dhileepan, K., Turville, C., & Dowling, K. (2022). Efficacy of halosulfuron-methyl in the management of Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus): differential responses of plants with and without established rhizomes. Weed Technology, 36(3), 397-402. doi.org/10.1017/wet.2022.29

Chadha, A., Florentine, S. K., Dhileepan, K., Turville, C., & Dowling, K. (2022). Evaluation of Florpyrauxifen-benzyl for the control of Cyperus aromaticus (Navua sedge). Advances in Weed Science, 40. doi.org/10.51694/AdvWeedSci/2022;40:00021

Chadha, A., Osunkoya, O. O., Shi, B., Florentine, S. K., & Dhileepan, K. (2022). Soil seed bank dynamics of pastures invaded by Navua Sedge (Cyperus aromaticus) in tropical north Queensland [Original Research]. Frontiers in Agronomy, 4. doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2022.897417

Chadha, A., & Florentine, S. (2021). Biology, Ecology, Distribution and Control of the Invasive Weed, Lactuca serriola L. (Wild Lettuce): A Global Review. Plants, 10(10), 2157. doi.org/10.3390/plants10102157

Chadha, A., Florentine, S. K., Dhileepan, K., Dowling, K., & Turville, C. (2021). Germination biology of three populations of Navua sedge (Cyperus aromaticus). Weed Science, 69(1), 69-81. doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2020.82

Chadha, A., Florentine, S., Javaid, M., Welgama, A., & Turville, C. (2020). Influence of elements of climate change on the growth and fecundity of Datura stramonium. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(28), 35859-35869. doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10251-y

Chadha, A., Florentine, S. K., Chauhan, B. S., Long, B., & Jayasundera, M. (2019). Influence of soil moisture regimes on growth, photosynthetic capacity, leaf biochemistry and reproductive capabilities of the invasive agronomic weed; Lactuca serriola. PLOS ONE, 14(6), e0218191. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218191

Chadha, A., Florentine, S., Chauhan, B. S., Long, B., Jayasundera, M., Javaid, M. M., & Turville, C. (2019). Environmental factors affecting the germination and seedling emergence of two populations of an emerging agricultural weed: wild lettuce (Lactuca serriola). Crop and Pasture Science, 70(8), 709-717. doi.org/10.1071/CP18594

Shi, B., Osunkoya, O. O., Chadha, A., Florentine, S. K., & Dhileepan, K. (2021). Biology, Ecology and Management of the Invasive Navua Sedge (Cyperus aromaticus) - A Global Review. Plants, 10(9), 1851. doi.org/10.3390/plants10091851

Weller, S., Florentine, S., Javaid, M. M., Welgama, A., Chadha, A., Chauhan, B. S., & Turville, C. (2021). Amaranthus retroflexus L. (Redroot Pigweed): Effects of elevated CO2 and soil moisture on growth and biomass and the effect of radiant heat on seed germination. Agronomy, 11(4), 728. doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11040728