Dani Sarsekova | Agricultural Science | Outstanding Scientist Award

Prof. Dr. Dani Sarsekova | Agricultural Science | Outstanding Scientist Award

Central Asia | Kazak National agrarian research university | Kazakhstan

Prof. Dr. Dani Sarsekova is an accomplished researcher specializing in groundwater sustainability, environmental hydrology, and natural resource management, with a strong emphasis on the unique ecological and hydrogeological conditions of Central Asia. Her work addresses some of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges, including water scarcity, aquifer depletion, climate change impacts, and the urgent need for sustainable watershed management in arid and mountainous environments.Her research on groundwater systems in the Zhambyl Region of Southern Kazakhstan highlights her expertise in evaluating aquifer characteristics, groundwater recharge processes, and water resource pressures caused by agricultural expansion and climatic variability. This work provides scientifically grounded recommendations for improving groundwater use efficiency and strengthening long-term sustainability. Through comprehensive hydrochemical assessments, spatial mapping, and environmental diagnostics, she contributes vital knowledge to policy frameworks involving regional water management.Beyond groundwater studies, Prof. Sarsekova is deeply engaged in hydrological comparisons of river basins. Her research includes an influential comparative assessment of mountainous river basins in the Kyrgyz–Kazakh region with similar basins in Australia, Canada, and the United States, showcasing her ability to situate Central Asian ecosystems within a global context. This comparative approach enhances understanding of water cycle behavior, watershed resilience, and environmental stress responses across diverse climatic zones.Her broader research portfolio spans integrated natural resource management, climate resilience, land–water interactions, soil–water dynamics, ecological vulnerability, and environmental sustainability assessments. She frequently collaborates with international teams to develop science-based solutions for environmental restoration, sustainable agriculture, and climate-adapted resource use.With a steadily growing corpus of publications, rising citations, and active involvement in multidisciplinary scientific networks, Prof. Dr. Dani Sarsekova is recognized as a significant contributor to advancing sustainable hydrology, groundwater conservation, and environmental resilience in Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region. Her work plays a crucial role in shaping sustainable strategies for water-dependent ecosystems under escalating environmental pressures.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

  • Adenova, D., Sarsekova, D., Absametov, M., Murtazin, Y., Sagin, J., Trushel, L., & Miroshnichenko, O. (2024). The study of groundwater in the Zhambyl Region, Southern Kazakhstan, to improve sustainability. Sustainability, 16(11), 4597. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114597

  • Sarsekova, D. N., Balakanova, A. S., Obizinskaya, E. V., Yesmurzayeva, A. K., & Librik, A. A. (2018). Influence of protective forest plants on soil fertility in agrarian landscapes (on the example of the Piskarev peasant household of Pavlodar). Herald of Science of S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University, No. 2(97).

  • Sarsekova, D. N., & Gudynaitė, V. (2014). Genotypic variation and heritability of growth and adaptive traits, and adaptation of young poplar hybrids at the northern margins of natural distribution of Populus nigra in Europe. Biomass & Bioenergy, 70, 513–529. (as mentioned on her profile)

  • Maissupova, I. K., Sarsekova, D. N., Weger, J., & Bubeník, J. (2017). Comparison of the growth of fast-growing poplar and willow in two sites of Central Kazakhstan. Journal of Forest Science, 63(5), 239–244. https://doi.org/10.17221/101/2016-JFS

  • Sarsekova, D. N., Maissupova, I. K., & Boranbay, Z. T. (2017). Determination of reserves of phytomass and circannual deposition of fast-growing wood species in Central Kazakhstan. Ecology, Environment and Conservation, 23(1), 256–261.

Rebecca Zengeni | Agricultural Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Rebecca Zengeni | Agricultural Science | Best Researcher Award

Senior lecturer | University of KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa

Dr. Rebecca Zengeni is a distinguished soil scientist and lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with a strong academic background including a BSc and MPhil in Soil Science from the University of Zimbabwe and a PhD from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, where her research focused on soil carbon dynamics and carbon dioxide efflux under different vegetation environments. She began her professional career as a researcher at the Ministry of Agriculture in Zimbabwe and later served as a lecturer at Bindura University of Science Education before joining UKZN. At UKZN, she teaches courses in soil science, waste management, and indigenous knowledge systems, while her research interests encompass soil fertility, soil and water conservation, field experiments, soil analysis, waste management, and nutrient management. Dr. Zengeni has authored 32 documents indexed in Scopus, with her work cited 454 times and an h-index of 10, reflecting her significant scholarly impact. Her research skills include expertise in soil analysis, experimental design, soil fertility assessment, and sustainable waste management. She has received recognition for her contributions to soil science through awards and professional acknowledgments, demonstrating her commitment to advancing knowledge in agricultural and environmental sciences. Overall, Dr. Zengeni’s career represents a blend of rigorous research, effective teaching, and meaningful contributions to sustainable soil and environmental management.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  1. Mbava, N., Zengeni, R., & Muchaonyerwa, P. (2025). Carbon dioxide emissions and nitrogen and phosphorus mineralization patterns from soil amended with shoot and root residues of different wheat genotypes. Frontiers in Agronomy, 7, 1576878.

  2. Vambe, M., Zengeni, R., Arthur, G., Singh, K., Amoo, S., Naidoo, K., & Coopoosamy, R. M. (2024). Moringa oleifera leaf powder influenced the chemical profile of Leonotis leonurus essential oils. Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 5(6).

  3. Vambe, M., Singh, K., Coopoosamy, R. M., Naidoo, K., & Zengeni, R. (2024). Vermicompost leachates enhance morpho-physiological properties in Pelargonium sidoides DC. Journal of Medicinal Plants for Economic Development, 8(1), a256. https://doi.org/10.4102/jomped.v8i1.256

  4. Ntonta, S., Zengeni, R., Muchaonyerwa, P., & Chaplot, V. (2024). Variability in decomposition rate of sorghum cultivar residues linked to lignin content. Rhizosphere, 29, 100850.

  5. Zengeni, R., & Hlatshwayo, N. (2023). Non-agricultural soil uses by communities in uMgungundlovu District and their safety for use. Inkanyiso, 15(1), a70.