Department of Soil Science – Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (2024)

The Department of Soil Science owes its origin to Imperial Agricultural Research Institute established at Pusa, Bihar in 1905. Workers like Dr. J. W. Leather “considered father of Indian Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry” sowed the seed for the research in the field of soil science at Pusa. After the establishment of Rajendra Agricultural University in 1970, the post graduate studies in Soil Science started with a full fledged laboratory and staff. Stalwarts like Prof. S. C. Mandal, Dr. K. K. Jha, Dr. P. P. Jha, Dr. M.K. Sinha, Dr. R. Sakal and others gave the present shape to the Department. Further the state university i. e Rajendra Agricultural University has been upgraded in to CAU, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University and departmental research, teaching and extension activities gained momentum to fulfill the need of farmers, students and researchers.

The department has carved a niche for itself through focused research in different spheres of soil science as well as by producing quality human resource through excellent postgraduate with updated and modern courses curricula. The great diversity in the areas of expertise and interests present in the Department leads to diversity in thesis research. Till date about 202 M.Sc. and 57 Ph.D. students have earned degrees and more than 1200 research publications have been made.

Over the years, the trained and accomplished faculty members as well as students in addressing current issues in Soil Science have won several national and international awards. Individual staff members within the department have long been recognized for their leadership role in the Soil Science. To cater the needs of farmers, the soil testing lab is issuing Soil Health Card with crop based nutrient recommendation.

Vision

To promote quality teaching in different field of soil science and strengthen the soil science research through multidisciplinary research for efficient utilization of resources for betterment of agriculture.

Mandate

• To impart education in different branches of soil science and allied fields
• Basic, strategic, and applied research on physical, chemical and biological processes in soils for developing technologies to enhance productivity and quality of soil and agricultural produce.
• To collaborate with relevant national and international agencies for all round development of agriculture in the state.

Objectives/Goals

• To provide scientific basis for enhancing and sustaining productivity of soil resources with minimal environmental degradation.
• To conduct basic research on soil processes for enhancing nutrient use efficiency and soil health sustenance
• To promote bio-waste management technology for improving productivity, soil bio-diversity and carbon storage
• To encourage organic farming under climate smart agriculture for sustaining productivity and ecosystem functioning
• To characterize the key soil biota for improving N, P, K, S and Zn use efficiency in Inceptisols and Alfi sols
• To study conservation agriculture and low carbon footprint to keep soil alive

The Department is actively engaged in the research work on both fundamental and applied aspects. Several projects funded by national/ international agencies have been completed successfully. Following are the projects which are under operation in the department:

• AICRP on ‘Soil Test Crop Response Correlation (STCR)’
• AICRP on ‘Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants’
• Project on ‘Organic Waste Management’ and ‘Vermicompost Production’
• Soil Intelligence System (SIS) project in collaboration with CIMMYT
• ‘Soil Health Assessment of Bihar’ in collaboration with Cornell University (USA) and CIMMYT Maxico
• International Plant Nutritional Institute, South Asia Programme funded project on ‘Assessing the contribution of nutrients to yield of hybrid rice and maize through omission plot technique in Bihar’
• IRRI funded project on ‘Crop Manager’ under low land rainfed conditions

Adequate infra-structure are available like:

Number of Smart Class rooms: 2

Number of lecture Hall : 1

Number of adequately Equipped PG/Research Laboratories : 8

• Spectroscopy Laboratory equipped with: Spectroscopy, Deep Freezer, Rotary Shaker, Autoclave, B.O.D., and Bacteriological Incubator.
• Soil Physics Lab. equipped with Pressure Plate ,Guelph Permeameter, Yodler’sapperatus, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer Hot Air Oven, pH meter, Porometer, Soil Moisture meter

• Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) Lab. equipped with:-Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Semi Automatic Nitrogen Analyzer, Scanning Visible Spectrophotometer, Flame Photometer, pH meter, Conductivity meter, Water Purification System, Environmental Shaker, Rotary Shaker, Horizontal Shaker etc.

• Soil Health Lab. equipped with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer with Graphite furnace/ Hydride generator/ CHN analyzer/ High Speed Centrifuge / protein analyser/ aggregate analyzer, pH meter etc

• Micronutrient Lab. equipped with pH meter/ PC based UV visible Double Beam Spectrophotometer/ Flame Photometer/ Millipore Water Purification System etc.
• PG Lab I equipped with Scanning Visible Spectrophotometer, Flame Photometer, pH meter, Conductivity meter etc

• PG Lab II equipped with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Semi Automatic Nitrogen Analyzer, Scanning Visible Spectrophotometer, Flame Photometer, pH meter, Conductivity meter, Rotary Shaker, Horizontal Shaker etc

• Referral Soil Testing Laboratory equipped with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Semi Automatic Nitrogen Analyzer, Scanning Visible Spectrophotometer, Flame Photometer, pH meter, Conductivity meter, Water Purification System, Environmental Shaker, Rotary Shaker, Horizontal Shaker etc

1.Significant contributions:

• Referral Soil testing lab: of Bihar has identified Soil Testing Laboratory of the department as a referral laboratory for rechecking the analysis report of Government laboratories.
• Targetted yield equations: Fertilizer adjustment equations for major crops for different agro climatic zones of Bihar (with and without IPNS) and Jharkhand (without IPNS) states have been developed. Equations have also been developed for important vegetables, spices and medicinal plants grown especially in North Bihar area. Equations for major cropping system of the area (North Bihar) has been developed in which a farmer will get fertilizer recommendation for whole cropping system by sending their soil sample either in Kharif or Rabi.
• Fertility maps: GPS and GIS based Soil fertility mapping with regards to major, secondary and micronutrients of districts of Bihar have been developed in collaboration with Indian Institute of Soil Science
• Digital soil map: Digital soil map of soil properties were also prepared in collaboiration with CIMMYT. And ISRIC Neatherland.
• Fertilizer Recommendations: All Soil Testing Laboratory’s of the University, Govt. of Bihar and NGOs are recommending the fertilizer dose based on targeted yield concept
• Fertilizer saving Technology: compost + crop residues could save 50 % recommended dose of NPK and green manuring by summer green gram or its residues incorporation could save 25 % recommended dose of NPK in Rice –wheat cropping system
• Estimation of Critical limit: The critical limit of micro and secondary nutrients in soils and plants has been determined.
• Vermicomopsting Technology: Three epigeic species of earthworms namely Eseniafetida, Eudrilluseugenii and Perionyxexcavatus have largely been harnessed for vermicomposting.
• Low cost bamboo pit: A cost effective bamboo pit technology for vermicopmposting has been introduced.
• Characterization of Vermicompost: The vermicompost being produced is enriched with gypsum @ 2.5% and rock phosphate @ 5 % P2O5 W/W. Characterization of RPCAU Vermicompost for physical, chemical and microbial properties has been done and is satisfactory. The Maturity index or Biodegradability index (B.I.) value were higher in compost (3.5 to 4.6) than in Vermicompost (2.2 to 2.9) indicating the stability of Vermicompost.
• Dissemination of Vermicomposting technology: Semi-automated vermicompost technology has been demonstrated in a large scale at Babadham temple of Deoghar and DRPCAU, Samastipur. This low cost technology is most suitable for recycling of domestic kitchen waste, horticultural waste, temple flower offering waste
• Efficient strains of microbes for bio-fertilizers: Highly efficient isolates of Rhizobium, Azatobacter and PSB (Pseudomonas and Bacillus) are being maintained and are available for mass multiplication. Vermicompost has been recommended to be used as carrier material for biofertilizer production.

2.Revenue generation:

a) Sale of Vermicompost and Earthworms: 23, 32, 111/- were generated from the sale of 3206.85 q vermicompost and 14.42 q earthworms & during financial year during 2015-16 to 2019-20.

b) Consultancy Services: Consultancy Services was provided to HPCL, Mumbai and A sum of Rs.19, 63,500/ – (Rupees nineteen lakh sixty three thousand five hundred) only mobilized vide two consultancy projects on Biomass assessment for Supaul and Saharsa district.

c) Services

• Soil samples of farmer’s field are tested for their various chemical properties on nominal charges. According to the test report, fertilizer recommendations are made using Targeted Yield Equations developed by the department.
• Training to Govt. officials, farmers and entrepreneurs are conducted on Soil Testing/INM/Vermicompost Technology/bio-fertilizer production technology.
• Efficient isolates of Rhizobium, Pseudomonas and Bacilus are available.
• Mass Production of Azolla and its dissemination among farmers for the use as bio-fertilizer and cattle feed.
• Vermicompost production is being carried out at large scale. Earth worms and the vermicompost is available for the farmers at reasonable prices as fixed by the university, time to time.

d) Faculty awards/ honours:

• Shankar Jha, Scientist, Soil Science, Certificate of Appreciation-2019 Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur is awarded with Certificate of Appreciation for his contribution in Development of Waste Management system of University Campus which played a major role to be shortlisted amongst the best five university for the Asia under Green University category by Asia pacific Triple –E Award.
• Shankar Jha received appreciation letter from Hon’ble Vice-chancellor for his immense contribution in waste management programme of the university which helped to receive Asia-Pacific Triple E Awards at Marriot Hotel, Kochi, Kerala (Institutional Award).
• Shankar Jha received 1st prize for his thematic pandal in the KishanMela 2019-20, organized by RPCAU, Pusa.
• S.N. Suman, Scientist, Department of Soil Science, Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis award in International Conference on Food Security through Agriculture & Allied Sciences at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal during May 27-29, 2019 and received the award from the President Nepalese Society of Soil Science, Kathmandu, Nepal
• S.N. Suman, Scientist, Department of Soil Science, Outstanding Scientist in Agriculture Award in the 4th International Conference on Innovative Approaches in Applied Science and Agriculture organized at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during 25-29, May 2019
• S.N. Suman, Scientist, Department of Soil Science, Young Scientist Award from Dr. Ram AvtarShikshaSamiti for outstanding contribution in the field of Agriculture & allied on the occasion of Scientist Award Ceremony on 12.07.2019 at Auditorium, Department of Public Administration, Lucknow University, Lucknow
• S.N. Suman, Scientist, Department of Soil Science, Young Scientist Award from Society of Agricultural Research and Social Development, New Delhi for a significant research contribution in the field of Soil Science on 24.8.2019
• Conferred with Fellow membership certificate from Society of Agricultural Research and Social Dr. S.N. Suman, Scientist, Department of Soil Science, Development, New Delhi for outstanding contributions in the field of Soil Science on 22.8.2019.
• S.N. Suman, Scientist, Department of Soil Science, first prize during Hindi Pakhwada (11-25 September, 2019) organized by Officer In charge, Rajbhasa, RPCAU, Pusa.
• Dr. S.N. Suman, Scientist, Department of Soil Science, Best Teacher Award-2020, Agricultural and Environmental Technology Development Society (AETDS)

Research activities

National and International Collaborations with other organizations/Institutes:

International Collaborations:

• MoU between RPCAU & Cornell University has been signed for a four year project on ‘Soil Health”. CIMMYT & Environment Defense Fund Colorado (USA) are the collaborating partners. Soil Spectroscope has been supplied by CIMMYT.
• Soil IntelligenceSystem under this project in collaboration with CIMMYT digital soil map on pH, EC, Org. C, macro and micronutrients were prepared with the help of ISREC Netherlands.
• Crop Manager app was launched in collaboration with IRRI Philippines for nutrient management in Rice based cropping systems for Bihar. This app is available on IRRI website.

National Collaborations:

• To manage the floral offerings of BaidyanathDham temple and Thakur AnukulchandSatsang Ashram Deoghar (Jharkhand) MoU between RPCAU, Pusa, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, and KVK , Sujani (Deoghar), Jharkhand.
• MOU between Baba Garibnathdham Trust, Muzaffarpur was signed to manage the floral offerings of theGaribnathdham temple.

Publications:

Technical Bulletins:

• Singh, A.K., Ray chaudhary, M., Jain, S.K. & Chandra, R. (2016). Ground water pollution from Different Wastewater Sources. AICRP on irrigation Water Management, RajendraAgril. University, Pusa, Samastipur Technical Bulletin No. 01/IWM:1-20.
• Singh, A.K., Raychaudhary, M., Jain, S.K. & Chandra, R. (2016). Sewage Water Irrigation and Heavy Metal Accumulation in Vegetables in Patna by-pass Area. AICRP on irrigation Water Management, RajendraAgril. University, Pusa, Samastipur Technical Bulletin No. 02/IWM : 1-16.
• Singh, A.K., Jain, S.K. & Chandra, R. (2018). Technologies for Sustainable ground water management.Ground water pollution in Bihar & option for its use. ICAR Indian Institute of Water Management. Bulletin No.80. p-33.
• Singh, A.K., Jain, S.K. & Chandra, R. (2018). Technologies for Sustainable ground water management.Ground water pollution in Bihar & option for its uDevelopment of ground water resources for irrigation in BurhiGandak River Basin & South Bihar. ICAR Indian Institute of Water Management. Bulletin No.80 p-34

Text Books:

• AradhnaKumari, P.K. Mishra, Santosh Kumar Singh and Manoj Pandey (2016). tSfod [ksrh. ISBN 978-81-9299990-6-7. Kushal publication, Varanasi.
• Shankar Jha, Shiva NathSuman, Mukesh Kumar and Pradeep Dey (2019) e`nkijh{k.k ,oaizca/ku AICRP on STCR, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, RPCAU Pusa . Page:1-106.
• RanjanLaik, Santosh Kumar Singh, Vipin Kumar, A. K. Shukla. 2019. Long-term experiments on micronutrients in calcareous soils of Bihar. Laxmi Enterprises publication. pp. 135
• Mukesh Kumar, Shankar Jha, Shiva NathSuman Pradeep Dey and Rajeswari Das (2020) IPNS Based Long-Term Experimment of Rice-Wheat Cropping System in Calcareous Soil. AICRP on STCR, Department of Soil Science, RPCAU, Pusa:p-111.
• Sanjay Tiwari, Mahendra Kumar Verma, Shiva NathSuman, Sarvesh Kumar, SunitaKumariMeena and Gautam Kumar (2021) Site Specific Integrated Nutrient Management (ISBN No. 978-81-927825-3-9) Parmar Publishers and Distributors, Dhanbad, PP: 161.
• A. K. Singh edited book entitled `MattiSandesh’ MelaBisheshank in Feb, 2020.

Lab Manuals/Technical Bulletin

• Prasad, J., Muralidhrudu Y., Mishra, G. K. and Jha Shankar (2009). Soil Test Based Fertilizer Recommendation for Targetted Yield of Crops in Bihar. AICRP on Soil Test Crop Response Correlation, Department of Soil Science, RAU, Pusa, pp 80 .
• Mk0 ‘kadj >k] ,l0ih0 flag] Mk0 tuknZu izlkn] Mk0 th0 ds0 feJk] Mk0 ,0 ih0 flag ,oa Mk0 vkj0 vkj0 flag (2010) oehZ dEiksLV % oehZdEiksLV ,d lQy tSfod [kkn. Released in Kisan Mela at RAU by Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of Bihar.
• tuknZu izlkn] lat; frokjh] ‘kadj >k ,oa ,l0ih0 flag (2011) e`nk LokLF; ijh{k.k ,oa moZjk’kfDr izca/ku] izf’k{k.k ekxZnf’kZdk] 2011] e`nk foKku foHkkx] d`f”k ladk;] jktsUnz d`f”k fo’ofo|ky;] fcgkj] iwlk pp 62
• Mk0 ‘kadj >k] Mk0 vkj0ds0 ik.Ms;, Mk0 ,l 0 ih0 flag , Mk- ,e- ih- flag ,oa Mk0 ds. eaMy “oehZ dEiksLV ,oa kq [kkn” (2012): izdk’ku foHkkx] jktsUnz d`f”k fo’ofo|ky;] iqlk }kjk izdkf’kr pp 40
• ‘kadj >k] f”koukFk lqeu] eqds”k dqekj vkSj iznhi Ms ¼2019½ e`nk ijh{k.k ,oa izca/ku p 1-106 .
• Mukesh Kumar, S. K. Singh, Vijay Kumar, S.K.Chandra, Er. Jeetendra Kumar and Wajid Hasan (2018) “Practical Manual of Soil Physics” Department of Soil Science, RAU, Pusa, pp 100.

Extension Activities:

Scientists of the Department has actively participated in development of Sukhet Model (Dr. Shankar Jha, Dr. M. C. Manna and Dr. S. P. Singh) which was highly appreciated by Hon,ble Prime Minister Govt. of India in 80th episode of Man Ki Baat on 29th August,2021.

Glimpses of Sukhet Model in Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat

“Before me is an example that has come from Madhubani in Bihar. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University in Madhubani and the local Krishi Vigyan Kendra have jointly made a worthy effort. Not only farmers are accruing benefit from this scheme but it has also imparted renewed vigour to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The name of this initiative of the University is – “Sukhet Model”. The purpose of the Sukhet model is to reduce pollution in the villages. Under this model, dung and other household wastes are collected from the farmers of the village and in return the villagers are given money for cooking gas cylinders. The process of making vermicompost from the village’s discarded trash is also underway. Therefore, there are four benefits of the Sukhet model that are directly visible. First, the village is freed from pollution; the second is that the village is freed from filth; the third is that the money for the LPG cylinder goes to the villagers and the fourth is that the farmers of the village get bio- fertilizer. You must give it a thought as to how such efforts can increase the power of our villages. This is the basis of self-reliance. I appeal that every Panchayat of the country should also think of doing something like this in their respective villages.”

Dissemination of Vermicomposting technology: Semi-automated vermicompost technology has been demonstrated in a large scale at Babadham temple of Deoghar and DRPCAU, Samastipur. This low cost technology is most suitable for recycling of domestic kitchen waste, horticultural waste, temple flower offering waste

Dissemination of Vermicomposting technology: Semi-automated vermicompost technology has been demonstrated in a large scale at Babadham temple of Deoghar and DRPCAU, Samastipur. This low cost technology is most suitable for recycling of domestic kitchen waste, horticultural waste, temple flower offering waste