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DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE
Department of Soil Science was established as part of the College of
Agriculture in the university in 1960. The post-graduate programme
at Master’s level started in 1963 and Ph.D. programme in 1967.
Since then a significant increase in the size of faculty and the
areas of specialization, remarkable improvement in the laboratory
facilities and appreciable growth in the number of courses have been
registered. For outstanding research contribution one scientist has
received the coveted Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award and another scientist
received national level ISAC-PPCl Award. Two Ph.D scholars have won
the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for their outstanding
doctoral dissertation.
VISION
The department of Soil Science
will be a centre of excellence in creating, acquiring and
disseminating knowledge in Soil Science for sustainable and
productive use of natural resources for the welfare of humankind.
MISSION
- To provide
high quality education to students with an understanding of and
ability to apply fundamental principles of soil science, and
natural resource management.
- To develop
knowledge of soil science and the interrelationships with plant
nutrition, plant growth, and environmental quality;
- To apply this
knowledge to advance resource efficient and environmentally
sound soil management technologies.
MANDATE
- To offer
courses in Soil Science to undergraduate students of agriculture
and other stream;
- To conduct
post-graduate programmes for Master’s and Ph.D. degree in Soil
Science;
- To carry out
basic and strategic research on soils especially physical,
chemical and biological processes related to management of
nutrients, water, agrochemicals and energy;
- To disseminate
and promote the technologies for sustainable management of soil
and water resources, and efficient use of nutrient,
agrochemicals and energy.
FACULTY
Presently, there are 14 faculty
members including 6 Professors, 4 associate Professors and 4
Assistant Professors. The areas of specialization of the faculty
members embrace various domain of Soil Science such as Soil physics
and water management, Soil chemistry and Soil mineralogy, Soil
fertility and nutrient management, Soil microbiology and
biofertilizers, pedology and soil survey, GIS & GPS based soil
fertility maps etc.
List of faculty
members with their specialization & E-mail Id.
|
Name |
Designation |
Specialization |
E-mail Id. |
|
Dr. Ramesh
Chandra |
Prof. & Head |
Soil
Microbiology/ Biofertilizer |
rc.pantnagar@gmail.com. |
|
Dr. H.S.
Kushwaha |
Professor |
Soil
Physics/Soil and Water Management |
kushwahahs@yahoo.co.in |
|
Dr. P.C.
Srivastava |
Professor |
Soil
Chemistry/Micronutrients |
pcsriv@yahoo.com |
|
Dr. Sobaran
Singh |
Professor |
Soil
Chemistry/Fertility and Fertilizer Use |
Sobaranss@yahoo.co.in
sobaransingh@gmail.com |
|
Dr. H.S.
Mishra |
Professor |
Soil
Physics/Agroforestry |
|
|
Dr. Narendra
Kumar |
Professor |
Soil
Microbiology/ Biofertilizers |
nk5278@rediffmail.com |
|
Dr. K.P.
Raverker |
Associate
Professor |
Soil
Microbiology |
kraverker@gmail.com |
|
Dr. Navneet
Pareek |
S.R.O. |
Soil
Fertility/Microbiology |
pareeknav@gmail.com |
|
Dr. Ajaya
Srivastava |
S.R.O. |
Soil
Fertility/Soil chemistry |
ajayasoiliari@gmail.com |
|
Dr. Shri Ram |
Associate
Professor |
Soil
Chemistry/Fertility |
shriram_189@yahoo.co.in |
|
Dr. Poonam
Gautam |
J.R.O. |
Soil
Microbiology/Fertility |
drpgautam@rediffmail.com |
|
Dr. S.P.
Pachauri |
J.R.O. |
Soil
Chemistry/Micronutrients |
sp_pachauri@rediffmail.co.in |
|
Dr. A.P.
Singh |
J.R.O. |
Soil
Fertility/Soil Chemistry |
ajeetsona@gmail.com |
|
Dr. Veer
Singh |
J.R.O. |
Soil
Fertility |
veer1969_singh@yahoo.co.in |
LABORATORY AND
OTHER FACILITIES
There
are 9 well-equipped laboratories for carrying out routine analysis,
measurement and monitoring of soil properties in the fields of soil
physics, soil chemistry, soil mineralogy, soil microbiology, soil
fertility including micronutrients, soil testing, and soil survey,
Sophisticated equipments like, ICP-MS, N Cube N analyzer, Neutron
Probe Moisture meter, Porometer, Pressure Membrane Apparatus,
Yoder’s Apparatus, Gas Chromatograph, Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometer, UV-VIS Spectrophotometer, Flame Photometer,
Semi-auto Nitrogen Analyzer, Refrigerated Centrifuge, Canopy
Analyzer, Environmental Shaker and cartographic instruments are
available in the laboratories. Green house facilities for plant
growth experiments and lysimeters for ET measurement and water
balance studies are available. There are 30 personal computers with
soft wares for data processing, graphics, word processing, systems
simulation and modeling. All PC’s have Internet connection. The
department also manages Central Analytical Laboratory of University.
ACTIVITIES
Department of Soil Science is engaged in all the three activities
viz. teaching, research and extension programmes of the College of
Agriculture and the University. Every faculty member is involved in
teaching, research and extension activities in an integrated
manner. Various activities of the department are summarized in Fig.
1.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
Department of Soil Science offers 6 core
courses at under graduate level (B.Sc.Ag., B.Sc. Forestry, B.Sc.
Horticulture and B. Tech. Agril. Engg.) and 22 courses to
post-graduate students. The areas of specialization at
post-graduate level are soil physics and water management, soil
chemistry and soil pollution, soil fertility and nutrient
management, soil microbiology and biofertilizers, and pedology and
soil survey.
COURSES OFFERED
|
Course
No. |
Title of
the Course |
Credit
hr. |
|
Under Graduate
Courses |
|
APS-102 |
Agriculture
for Engineers (B. Tech. Ag. Engg.) |
4(3+1) |
|
APS-220 |
Agricultural Microbiology |
2(2+1)
|
|
APS-320 |
Fundamentals of Soil Science |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-330 |
Soil
Fertility, Manure, fertilizer and INM |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-340 |
Conservation and management of soil water resources |
2(1+1) |
|
APS-366 |
Soil
Quality Analysis and Management |
2(0+2x2) |
|
ARE-390 |
Plant
Clinic (RAWE) |
4(0+4) |
|
APS-101 |
Work
Programme |
1(0+1) |
|
Deficiency courses for post-graduate students
(non-agriculture graduate) |
|
APS-401 |
Basics of
Soil Science |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-430 |
Soil Survey |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-468 |
Soil
testing and fertilizer recommendation |
2(1+1) |
|
Post Graduate
courses |
|
APS-500 |
Soil
Physics |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-515 |
Analytical
techniques and Instrumental methods in soil and plant
analysis |
2(0+2) |
|
APS-516 |
Soil
Fertility and Fertilizer Use |
4(3+1) |
|
APS-517 |
Soil
Chemistry |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-518 |
Soil
Biology and Biochemistry |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-519 |
Soil
Mineralogy, Genesis, Classification and Survey |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-580 |
Soil
Erosion and Conservation |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-600 |
Master
Seminar |
1(0+1) |
|
APS-601 |
Special
Problem |
1-2 |
|
APS-610 |
Management
of Problematic Soils and Water |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-615 |
Fertilizer
Technology |
1(1+0) |
|
APS-620 |
Land
Degradation and Restoration |
1(1+0) |
|
APS-640 |
Soil Plant
Microbe Relationship |
3(3+0) |
|
APS-705 |
Remote
Sensing & GIS Techniques for soil and crop studies |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-710 |
Advances in
Soil Physics |
2(2+0) |
|
APS-720 |
Advances in
Soil Fertility |
2(2+0) |
|
APS-730 |
Biochemistry of Soil Organic Matter |
2(2+0) |
|
APS-788 |
Doctoral
Seminar-I |
1(0+1) |
|
APS-789 |
Doctoral
Seminar-II |
1(0+1) |
|
Minor package |
|
APS-500 |
Soil
Physics |
3(2+1) |
|
APS-515 |
Analytical
techniques and Instrumental methods in soil and plant
analysis |
2(0+2) |
|
APS-516 |
Soil
Fertility and Fertilizer Use |
4(3+1) |
|
APS- |
Optional
course |
1 cr. |
RESEARCH
Problem oriented basic and applied
research related to soils is carried out through post-graduate
thesis research and externally funded research projects. Until 2011
more than 60 research projects funded by various national agencies (ICAR,
NATP, CSIR, DST, DBT, UPDASP, U.P. Govt., IFFCo, RCF and other
agencies) and international agencies (IRRI, CIMMYT etc.) have been
completed, currently, 21 research projects including 11 All India
Coordinated Research Projects, one IFFCo Chair project and 7 ad-hoc/NAIP/competitive
grant projects are in operation in the Department.
FOCUSED RESEARCH AREA
-
Development of diagnostic tools for monitoring organic matter
turnover.
-
Generation of data base and assessment of soil and water
resources using remote sensing and GIS techniques.
-
Studies on nutrient dynamics in soil and plant for efficient
utilization of plant nutrients and development of nutrient
uptake models.
-
Assessment and monitoring soil biological and biochemical
properties under different crop management practices.
-
Development of soil quality indices based on soil physical,
chemical and biological properties for sustainable crop
production.
-
Management of degraded lands.
-
Development of eco-friendly integrated plant nutrient management
strategies for different cropping systems.
-
Identification of efficient strains/biological nitrogen fixers,
phosphate solubilizing, PGPR microorganisms and nutrient
mobilizing mycorrhizae.
-
Development of bio-fertilizers production technology to reduce
the use of chemical fertilizer.
-
Development of fertilizer recommendation for targeted and
economic yields of different crops based on soil testing.
-
Identification and characterization of genotypes for efficient
nutrient uptake, utilization and enhanced soil nutrient
availability.
-
Development of efficient crop residue recycling techniques.
-
Assessment and utilization of municipal, agricultural and
industrial wastes in relation to crop production and development
of scientific compost technology.
RESEARCH
PROJECTS IN OPERATION
|
1. |
Title of
the research project |
Principal Investigator |
Co-Principal Investigators |
Funding
Agency |
|
A. All
India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) |
|
1. |
AICRP on
MULLaRP (Soil Microbiology component |
Dr. Ramesh
Chandra |
Dr. Navneet
Pareek |
ICAR |
|
2. |
AICRP on
Chickpea (Soil Microbiology component |
Dr. Ramesh
Chandra |
Dr. Navneet
Pareek |
ICAR |
|
3. |
AICRP on
Soybean improvement (Soil microbiology component) |
Dr.
Narendra Kumar |
|
ICAR |
|
4. |
AICRP on
maize improvement (Soil Science component) |
Dr. Veer
Singh |
|
ICAR |
|
5. |
AICRP on
water management (Soil science component) |
Dr. H.S.
Kushwaha |
Dr. Veer
Singh |
ICAR |
|
6. |
AICRP on
Long Term Fertilizer Experiments |
Dr. Shri
Ram |
|
ICAR |
|
7. |
AICRP on
Soil test crop response correlation |
Dr. Sobaran
Singh |
Dr. Ajaya
Srivastava
Dr. Poonam Gautam |
ICAR |
|
8. |
AICRP on
micro and secondary nutrients and pollutant elements in
soils and plants |
Dr. P.C.
Srivastava |
Dr. S.P.
Pachauri |
ICAR |
|
9. |
AICRP on
Agroforestry (Soil Science component) |
Dr. H.S.
Mishra |
|
ICAR |
|
10. |
AICRP on
Farming System (Soil Science component) |
Dr. A.P.
Singh |
|
ICAR |
|
11. |
Development
of Agro-Advisory Services based on medium range weather
forecasts |
Dr. H.S.
Kushwaha |
|
DST |
|
B. Adhoc/Competitive
Grant Projects |
|
12. |
Evaluation
of some multinutrient extractants for testing the
availability of micronutrient in soils. |
Dr. P.C.
Srivastava |
|
BRNS |
|
13. |
IFFCo Chair
project on fertilizer use efficiency |
Dr. Ramesh
Chandra |
|
IFFCo |
|
14. |
Understanding the mechanism of variation in status of a few
nutritionally important micronutrients in some important
food crops and the mechanism of micronutrient enrichment in
plant parts (Multi diciplinary project) |
Dr. P.C.
Srivastava |
Dr. S.P.
Pachauri |
NAIP (ICAR) |
|
15. |
Yield
forecasting for Rice, wheat and sugarcane crops for Tarai
and Bhabar Agro-climatic zone of Uttarakhand |
Dr. H.S.
Kushwaha |
Dr. Veer
Singh |
Earth
Science
Govt. of
India |
|
16. |
GPS and GIS based model soil
fertility maps for selected districts for precise fertilizer
recommendation to the farmer of India |
Dr. Shri
Ram |
Dr. Ajaya
Srivastava
Dr. Poonam Gautam
Dr. S.P.
Pachauri |
Min of
Agril. Govt. of India |
|
17. |
Effect of UPH 110 in wheat and
UPH 1110 in Mustard on soil physico-chemical and micro-flora
counds in on going bio-efficacy trials in the University and
other centres |
Dr. Ramesh
Chandra |
Dr. K.P.
Raverker |
M/s United
Phosphorus Limited |
|
18. |
Bio-efficacy study of Jump Start
in Wheat |
Dr. Ramesh
Chandra |
Dr. Navneet
Pareek |
M/S
Novozymes Sout Asia, Bangalore
|
|
19. |
Bio-efficacy
studies of bio fertility product JumpStart in chickpea |
Dr. Ramesh
Chandra |
Dr. Navneet
Pareek |
M/S
Novozymes Sout Asia,
Bangalore
|
|
20. |
Evaluation of fertilizer potential of seaweed sap in green
gram and black gram |
Dr. K.P.
Raverker
|
Dr. Ramesh
Chandra |
Central Salt
and Marine
Chemicals
Research Institute, Gujarat |
|
21. |
Niche are of excellence in Geoinformatics for natural
resource management and precision farming |
Dr. A. S. Nain
|
Dr. Ramesh Chandra, Dr. A.P. Singh |
ICAR, New Delhi
|
EXTENSION
Department of Soil Science
participates in all the extension programmes such as on-farm
experiments frontline demonstration, ATIC Agro advisory Help line
service, Farmer’s Fair, Training of extension personnel and farmers,
radio talks, T.V. interviews and publications of farmers literature,
Soil Testing Laboratory provides the soil testing service and
soil-test based fertilizer/amendment recommendation to the farmers,
extension personnel, agro industries and NGO’s Biofertilizers
Laboratory provides the facility of quality evaluation of
biofertilizers.
Besides, weather based agro advisories are published in Hindi
Dailies and broadcast by AIR Rampur every Wednesday and telecast by
ETV Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand every Thursday.
PUBLICATIONS
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