Principal Scientist (Soil Science)

Currently working as Principal Scientist (Soil Science) at National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur, Maharashtra. Obtained B.Sc., M.Sc. (Ag.) and Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Joined Agricultural Research Services in 1988. During the last 20 years, contributed significantly on various aspects of soil fertility and plant nutrition of citrus viz., development of soil-plant nutrient diagnostics for different commercial citrus cultivars, nutrient constraints analysis of citrus orchards of India through nationwide citrus-based databank, development of leaf and soil diagnostics, nutritional, physiology of citrus, citrus decline versus soil fertility and plant nutrition, orchard efficiency vis-à-vis soil properties, evaluation of micro-irrigation, fertigation requirement and its scheduling, integrated nutrient management (INM) and site specific nutrient management (SSNM).

Credited with 114 research papers in peer reviewed journals (22 in foreign journals), 136 abstracts, 24 scientific / technical papers, 8 extension bulletins, 6 technical bulletins and 1 manual in addition to 7 authored books and 4 edited Proceedings of National and International Symposium on Citriculture. Recipient of some nationally recognized awards like S.N. Ranade Memorial Junior Scientist Award, FAI Silver Jubilee Award, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose National Excellence Award, NESA Scientist of the year etc. Nominated reviewer of journals published from CSIRO, Australia; American Society of Horticultural Science, USA and Elsevier Publishers, Netherlands besides numerous Indian Journals. Invited as Citrus Expert by Nepal Council of Agricultural Research, Nepal in 1999 and keynote speaker to session on Nutritional Physiology in 11th International Citrus Congress at Wuhan, China in 2008.  

Member of Editorial Board of many Indian Journals; Consulting Editor to International Treatise on Advances in Plant Physiology; Member, Editorial Board of Journals like Dynamic Soil and Dynamics Plant; Forestry Science and Biotechnology; Asian and Australasian Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology; Fruit, Vegetable and Cereal Science and Biotechnology all from GSB, UK. Fellow of 4 prestigious academic societies like Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, National Environmental Science Academy, Environmental Research Academy and Indian Society of Citriculture in addition to Life Member; Guest Member of World Association of Soil and Water Conservation, Thailand; Councilor, Indian Society of Soil Science and Treasurer, Indian Society of Citriculture. Biography cited in worlds’s two most coveted biographical compilations from IBC, UK and Marquos Who’s Who, USA.