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| Faculty
of Agriculture |
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| DEPARTMENT
OF SOIL SCIENCE & AGRICULTURE CHEMISTRY |
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| Head
of the Department |
Dr. Sameer Pal |
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The
present Department of Soil Science
and Agricultural Chemistry is an
outcome of a steady metamorphosis
from an old and rich heritage of
the past and has made excellent contribution
in the domain of Soil and plant research.
The research component of the Department is one of
the oldest one in the country starting way back in
the year 1883 when the first permanent manurial experiment
of the country was initiated at Kanpur to compare relative
efficacy of organic manures vis-à-vis
inorganic fertilizers on maize and wheat crops. |
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Subsequently,
the section of the Agricultural Chemist
to Govt. of United provinces ( now Uttar
Pradesh) came into existence with the appointment
of Mr. J.W. Leather as the first Imperial
Agricultural chemist in the year 1886.
The post was later redesignated as Agricultural
Chemist to Govt. of U.P. and galaxy of
luminaries viz. Dr. H.N. Batham, Dr. B.K.
Mukerji, Dr. R.R. Agarwal, and Dr. C.L. Mehrotra occupied the coveted chair. Other Scientists making
excellent contributions in soil and plant
research of the Department during the yore
years include Dr. B.N. P. Ghildyal, Padmashri
J.S.P. Yadav, Dr. A.N. Pathak, Dr. K.N.
Tiwari. |
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Teaching
of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
at B.Sc.(Ag.) level in Govt. Agricultural
College, Kanpur came into its being in
1930 followed by M.Sc.(Ag.) classes and
Ph.D. degree research in 1944 under the
stewardship of the eminent Scientist Prof.
J.G. Shrikhande(1944-58) succeeded by his
illustrious student Dr. A.N.Pathak(1958-87).
Later the research and teaching components functioning as independent units were merged into one Division with the upgradation
of Govt. Agricultural College, Kanpur as
U.P.Institute of Agricultural Sciences,
Kanpur in 1969 which was subsequently elevated
to the status of an independent University
in 1975 as Chandra Shekhar Azad University
of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur and
the erstwhile Division of Soils & Agril. Chemistry in the Institute was rechristened as Department of Soil Science
and Agricultural Chemistry now in vogue. |
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| Mandates |
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1 |
To
generate specialized manpower in
the discipline of Soil Science
and Agricultural Chemistry. |
2 |
To
conduct fundamental as well as
applied research in the domains
of Soil genesis and classification,
soil test crop response, soil fertility,
soil microbiology, salt affected
soils, and use of brackish and
saline waters for sustained crop
production together with the maintenance of soil health. |
3 |
To
conduct quality testing of fertilizers,
manures and pesticides for checking |
4 |
To
monitor pesticide residues in soil,
water, food and feed chains for
a judicious use of pesticides for
undertaking effective safeguard
measures against the human and
animal health hazards. |
5 |
To
disseminate useful research findings
to farmers as part of the lab to
land programme. |
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| Salient
achievements |
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1. |
Teaching |
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a |
Teaching
Programme aims at generating human
resource in Soil Science and Agricultural
Chemistry. More than 500 resource
personnels have been produced by
the Department so far. Some of them
have hold/have been holding coveted
position in the Agriculture Research
and Development, and administration. |
b |
Education
is being imparted through teaching
aids viz. O.H.P., slide projectors
and LCD. |
c |
U.G.
and P.G. laboratories have been renovated
with the assistance of ICAR, |
d |
Syllabi
of U.G. and P.G. programme as revised
and approved by ICAR at National
Level have been implemented. |
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| Courses
offered in U.G. and P.G. Programme |
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| B.Sc.Ag.
(Hons) |
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| Course
No. |
Course
Title |
Credit
Hrs. |
Sem |
| SAC-101 |
Introduction
to of Soil Science |
3(2+1) |
Ist |
| SAC-102 |
Soil
Chemistry, Soil fertility and Nutrient
Management |
3(2+1) |
IInd |
| SAC-201 |
Manure
,fertilizer and Agro chemicals |
3(2+1) |
IV |
| RAWE
Course |
Rural
Awareness work experience |
2(2+0) |
VII |
| SAC-401
(Old) |
Problem
soils & their Management |
2(1+1) |
VIII |
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| B.Sc.(Hons)
Horticlture |
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| Course
No. |
Course
Title |
Credit
Hrs. |
Sem |
| SAC-103 |
Fundamental
of soil science |
2(1+1) |
Ist |
| SAC-104 |
Soil
fertility and Nutrient Management |
2(1+1) |
IInd |
| SAC-202 |
Soil
and plant Analysis |
2(1+1) |
IV |
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| M.Sc.Ag. |
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| Course
No. |
Course
Title |
Credit
Hrs. |
Sem |
| SAC-501 |
Soil
Physics |
3(2+1) |
Ist |
| SAC-502 |
Instrumental
Techniques in Soil and Plant Analysis |
3(1+2) |
Ist |
| SAC-503 |
Soil
Mineralogy, Genesis & Classification |
3(2+1) |
IInd |
| SAC-504 |
Soil
Fertility & Plant Nutrition |
3(2+1) |
IInd |
| SAC-505 |
Soil
Chemistry |
3(2+1) |
IIIrd |
| SAC-506 |
Manures & Fertilizers |
3(2+1) |
IIIrd |
| SAC-509 |
Agricultural
Chemicals |
3(2+1) |
IIIrd |
| SAC-507 |
Soil
Biology & Biochemistry |
3(2+1) |
IVth |
| SAC-508 |
Soil
Pollution |
3(2+1) |
IVth |
| SAC-510 |
Soil
Technology |
3(2+1) |
IVth |
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| Ph.
D. Programme |
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| Course
No. |
Course
Title |
Credit
Hrs. |
Sem |
| SAC-601 |
Soil
Survey & Land use planning |
(2+1) |
Ist |
| SAC-602 |
Soil
Water Plant Relationship |
(2+1) |
Ist |
| SAC-603 |
Land
degradation and restoration |
(2+0) |
IInd |
| SAC-604 |
System
approach in soil research |
(2+0) |
IInd |
| SAC-605 |
Physical
Chemistry of Soil |
2
1/2 (2+1/2) |
IIIrd |
| SAC-606 |
Advanced
Soil Microbiology |
2
1/2 (2+1/2) |
IIIrd |
| SAC-699 |
SEMINAR |
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IIIrd |
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2. |
Research |
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| 2.1 |
Soil
Survey and Soil Work |
a |
Pedogenesis,
survey and classification including
soil mapping studies in U.P. initiated
as early as 1940. |
b |
Clay
mineralogical studies including XRD
studies undertaken in Dhankar, Karail,
Bundelkhand, alluvial, saline sodic
and Vindhyan soils of the state. |
c |
Detailed
soil survey and interpretive surveys
of the university farms and specific
project sites undertaken. |
d |
Simple
fertilizer trials conducted at farmers’ fields on different soil types/associations to evaluate their nutrient responsiveness
to crops for an efficacious and judicious
fertilizer use. |
e |
Quality
appraisal of irrigation waer from
various sources for their efficient
utilization in crop production . |
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| 2.2 |
Soil
Testing |
a |
Soil
testing for major, secondary and
micronutrients from farmers’ fields for an economical and balanced fertilizer use. |
b |
Evaluation
of fertility status of 4 development
blocks of Kanpur district and 27
university farms including computation
of nutrient index and preparation
of soil fertility maps. |
c |
Studies
on crop responses under graded fertilizer
doses, adhoc recommendations vs STR,
Soil test crop response relationship
in rice-wheat and maize-mustard crop
rotations undertaken. |
d |
Targetted
yield experiment conducted on wheat
and equations developed showing fertilizer
dose vs. targetted yields. |
e |
Soil
Testing method of alkaline permagnate
ext. N found to be well correlated
by Walkley and black’s organic carbon values (r = + 0.62** to +0.91***) in Bundelkhand and Alluvial
soils of the state. |
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| 2.3 |
Soil
Fertility |
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a |
Studies
on long term manurial cum fertilizer
trials (rice-wheat) conducted to
obtain basic information on integrated
plant nutrient management system
for sustainable crop production and
maintenance of soil health. |
b |
Evaluation
of major, secondary and micronutrient
status of the soils. |
c |
Studies
pertaining to response of nutrients
to crops/cropping systems and crop
quality. |
d |
Basic
soil studies on humic matter fractions,
P and K contents in mechanical separates
and forms of P and K in soils of U.P. |
e |
Evaluation
of various green manure crops (dhaincha,
sanai, guar, urd, lobia and mung)
for fertility build up and yield
response of sugarcane, paddy and
wheat when used alone or in conjuctive
use with inorganic fertilizer. |
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| 2.4 |
Soil
Microbiology |
a |
Isolation,
characterization and testing of a
large number of rhizobium strains
for identifying promising rhizobium
strains for different pulses. |
b |
Yield
responses of various pulse crops
and legumes to rhizobium inoculation
recorded. |
c |
Studies
on rhizobial responses to added fertilizer
nutrients, carrier materials, fungicides,
insecticides, intermittent inoculation
and delayed sowing. |
d |
Studies
on biological nitrogen fixation (BNF)
through rhizobium inoculation under
an adhoc project (1993-96). Of DBT,
New Delhi. |
e |
Under
non symbiotic N-fixation, screening
of nine Azotobacter strains for their
yield responses on cereals (rice
and wheat) and vegetables (brinjal,
tomato and cabbage) recorded. |
f |
Studies
on phosphorus solubilizing microbes(PSMs)
revealed yield responses in rice,
wheat and chickpea particularly in
P-deficient soils. |
g |
Studies
on yield responses of rice to BGA,
isolation of 11 effective genera
and their maintenance as unialgal
cultures, mass production of BGA,
multi-strain inoculant for farmers
use are among some of the important
achievements under an adhoc project
on BGA(1993-98) of DBT, New Delhi. |
h |
Field
studies on combined use of VAM and
PSB on wheat and chickpea, Azotobacter
and PSB on wheat, Azotobacter and
Azospirillum on barely, PSB and rhizobium
on wheat showed significant yield
responses to inoculation in these
crops. |
i |
At
higher salinity levels, nitrite formers
and bacterial spores were found to
be higher. Ammonification rates outstripped
that of nitrification in sodic soils.
However, S oxidizing power of sodic
soils(37.5%) was better than the
normal ones (28.7%). |
j |
N-enriched
phosphocompost and phospho-compost
prepared and crop responses to wheat
and succeeding rice crop were encouraging. |
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| 2.5 |
Salt
affected soils |
a |
Characterization
and classification of salt affected
soils of the State. |
b |
Studies
on comparative efficiency of soil
amendments viz. gypsum, sulphuric
acid and iron pyrites showed gypsum
to be a better amendment. |
c |
Studies
on frequency of gypsum application
revealed maximum yield responses
to rice grain yield when gypsum @
75% G.R. was applied in 2 splits
(50% GR in first year and 25% in
second year). |
d |
Green
manuring of Sesbania in combination
with gypsum found most beneficial
on rice grain yield alongwith soil
properties. |
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Use
of crop residues such as rice straw
and fly ash found beneficial in improving
sodic soils. |
f |
Widespread
deficiency of organic matter, nitrogen
and zinc found in sodic soils. However,
phosphorus deficiency and yield responses
to P-application limited to partially
reclaimed sodic soil on progressive
cropping. Integrated reclamation
management package for sodic land
was developed involving locally available organic wastes viz. rice straw, press mud and waterhyacinth
alongwith decomposing bioinoculation
+ gypsum @ 25% G.R. |
g |
Screening
of salt tolerant varieties of rice,pearl-millet,
sorghum, oats, barely, wheat, Egyptian
clover, Indian mustard and linseed
done successfully. |
h |
Screening
of elite varieties of nonconventional
crops for sodic soils such as tomato,
fenugreek, cabbage & cauliflower, garlic and onion, chilli and lemon grass done is under progress. |
i |
Among
fruit crops, the relative tolerance
for sodic conditions was found in
the order: Pomegranate >Ber>Guava. |
j |
Survey
and characterization of ground waters
of Kanpur district revealed that
11% samples were marginally alkali
type with E.C.iw and SAR iw < 4 dSm-1 and < 10 respectively and RSC (meL-1,) ranging between 2.5-4.0. |
k |
Utilization
of high RSC irrigation water was
successfully achieved by passing
these waters through gypsum beds.
Amended waters improved significantly
waters besides improving soil properties. |
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| 2.6 |
Quality
testing of fertilizers, manures
and pesticides |
| a |
Qualities
testing of fertilizer, manures and
allied chemicals have been doing as
per fertilizer control order. |
| b |
Quality
testing of pesticides is under taken
as per Bureau of Indian Standard
specifications (BIS) under Insecticide
Act Govt. of India. The quality testing
laboratory is equipped with modern
equipments like AAS, GLC, HPLC, UV-
spectrophotometer etc. |
| c |
AINP
on pesticide residues is running
since 1984 with objectives:
(a) Monitoring pesticide residues in biotic and abiotic
component
(b) Supervised field experiments on pulses, oil seeds,
cereals, vegetables and sugarcane to evaluate the persistence
of various insecticides on these crops at different
days and maturity stage. Modem equipments such as GLC,
HPLC and G.C-MS etc. are available in the pesticides
residue lab for analysis. |
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| 2.7 |
Testing
of Pesticide residues |
a |
Monitoring
of pesticide residues in food ( milk,
wheat flour, rice, vegetables, fruits,
butter and honey, animal feed and
water revealed contamination with
HCH, DDT, monocrotophos, endosulfan,
dicofol, chloropyrophos, chlordane
and aldrin etc. but none of the sample
contained more than the permissible maximum residue limit. |
b |
Supervised
field experiments on pulses, oil
seeds, cereals, vegetables and sugarcane
have been conducted to evaluate the
persistence of various insecticides
and fungicides on these crops at
maturity. |
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3. |
Extension
and Training |
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| 3.1 |
Peoples
Analytical Services |
a |
The
analytical capabilities of
different laboratories streamlined
as “Single Windco Facility” for the analysis of soils, irrigation water, fertilizers, manures, and pesticides
benefiting immensely farmers,
agri-business personnel,
industries including Govt.
and non Government organization. |
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| 3.2 |
Trainings |
a |
Short
training imparted to research personnel
and extension agencies in the fields
of soil testing, preparation and
use of microbial cultures, improved
composting methods, fertilizer use
efficiency and judicious use of biocides
for environmental safety. |
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| 3.3 |
Field
demonstrations |
a |
Field
demonstration of research findings
having practical utility and economic
viability are conducted at farmers’ fields for their benefit. |
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| 3.4 |
Field
Day |
a |
Field
days organized regularly at Fertilizer
Research Station, Pura and other
sites as well for face to face interactions
of Scientist-farmers for spot solution
of their agricultural problems. |
b |
Provision
of soil testing facilities at the site
for fertilizer recommendation. |
c |
Distribution
of Scientific literature to the farmers. |
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| 3.5 |
Exhibition
Kisan Mela |
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a |
The
department displays exhibits and
models to the famers during Kisan
melas held in October and March during
each year at the University Campus
and at other locations as well. |
b |
Soil
testing facilities are extended at
the mela site for spot fertilizer
recommendations. |
c |
Microbial
cultures are made available to the
farmers on minimum cost basis. |
d |
Popular
scientific literature (leaflets,
brochures etc.) on usar reclamation,
IPNM, Soil testing and fertilizer
use, value added composts, vermicomposts,
organic farming etc. are distributed
to the farmers free of cost. |
e |
Farmers
problems pertaining to soils, irrigation
water, fertilizer use, nutrient disorders
etc. addressed in Kisan Gosthi for
spot solution. |
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| 3.6 |
Single
window facility at the University
ATIC |
a |
As
a part of single window facility
to farmers at the University ATIC,
testing of soils, irrigation water,
fertilizers, manures, pesticides
etc. are provided to the farmers
at the centre. |
b |
Microbial
cultures are also made available to
farmers on minimum cost. |
c |
Popular
scientific literature on IPNM, soil
testing and fertilizer use, preparation
of value added compost, vermi-compost
etc. provided to farmers free of
cost. |
d |
Farmers
are advised on problems pertaining
to natural resources or inputs of
their area. |
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| Future
thrust areas and Strategies |
a |
Remote
sensing application using satellite
imageries for survey and mapping
of problem soils (salt affected,
eroded and water logged) of the University
area. |
b |
Soil
mineralogical characterizations using
XRD, thermal and chemical properties
of soils. |
c |
Delineating
areas of secondary and micro nutrient
deficiencies and their influence
on fertilizer use efficiency in different
agroclimatic zones. |
d |
Exploitation
and adoption of organic/Biofarming
for exportable quality produce and
ecological safety. |
e |
Studies
on Integrated Plant Nutrient Management
system(IPNS) for sustained production
and maintenance of soil health. |
f |
Improving
value added composts and vermicompost. |
g |
Soil
test crop response studies for refining
fertilizer recommendations in different
agroclimates of the University area. |
h |
Utilization
of brackish and saline waters for crop
production. |
i |
Identifying
non conventional crops and screening
crop/vegetables/fruit varieties for
salt and alkali tolerance. |
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