Inputs as QRT member of Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal Bhopal

I strongly believe that there are needs for emphasis on basic/ strategic studies, in addition to applied research, in relation to soil fertility for consideration by the QRT. Following are the recommendations out of deliberations up to Kalyani meeting.

A.            IISS, Bhopal (different divisions)

• ·         Create databank on soil hydro-physical, thermal, and aeration properties along with soil chemical and biological properties for different soils in the country, and also develop practical manual on soil physical and biological properties for uniform application throughout the country

• ·         Nutrient (major and micro) dynamics and their interactions with intra- and inter-aggregates pore distributions and clay surface charge density, their impacts on soil biological properties, and finally influence on soil health and, in turn, on crop productivity, with emphasis on soil rhizosphere region

• ·         Improve the macro- and micro-nutrient use efficiency; work out nutrient budgeting using radio isotopes, and the critical limits particularly for micronutrients which need to be re-looked especially for acid and alkali soils

• ·         Study SOC fractionation in relation to nutrient dynamics and transformation

• ·         Factors affecting C-sequestration in soils in different agroecosystems and long-term  monitoring of the same preferably through radiocarbon dating over the past and  suggest effective predictive models with special reference to climate change

• ·         Water, carbon and nitrogen footprints and their roles in soil-crop management with special reference to climate change

• ·         Standardize technique for collecting rhizosphere soils for studies on water and nutrient dynamics across soil-root interface

B.           AICRP-LTFE (IISS in collaboration with other units in different zones)

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•  Analyse in-depth on deteriorating crop productivity and quality of the produce in relation to soil health, and particularly the roles of P & K and micronutrients, along with consideration to relevant edaphic and climatic factors under different intensively cultivated cropping systems, and suggest remedial measures thereof

• ·         Develop predictive models on climate change for soil health assessment on a sustainable basis 

• ·        ·         Evaluate role of organic matter, say FYM, to  show structural variation in different components  through spectral analysis, and evaluate their roles on soil health

C.            C.         AICRP-MSN (IISS in collaboration with other units in different zones)

• ·         Delineate areas for micronutrient including heavy metals bringing out clearly deficiencies and toxicities, their uptake by crops and impacts on human and animal health  

• ·         Study on soil micronutrients and their fractions, their dynamics, path diagram, and contribution to soil health    

• ·         Relate the role of plant physiological functions, especially for Zn, for uptake at different stages of growth, for different crops   

• ·         Study the role of micronutrient application and biofortification in relation to human & animal health through uptake by crops 

• ·         Study heavy metal contaminations and their release, identify sources, develop maps thereof, and study interactions with intra- and inter-aggregate soil pore distributions and  surface charge density of soil clays (in view of other urgent priorities you may kindly re-think about this, especially when you want outputs from the other recommendations you are making. We will need to give an example of the value of such research by framing a reasonable hypothesis of the translational benefits of this basic research into strategic outputs that will then have great value addition.)

• ·         Develop steps for grading municipal solid waste compost for recycling with minimum nutrient content required in composts, the maximum limits of heavy metals for prevention of toxicity/pollution in Indian context, and reuse of STP water for irrigation

• ·         Study mechanism for  arsenic, fluoride and heavy metal contamination due to pollution and unplanned use of underground water bodies, and biogeochemistry of arsenic in aquatic environment in soil and development of multi-scalar integrated risk management

• ·         Study role of nanotechnology to improve micronutrient use efficiency, and the mechanism of absorption of nanoparticles of rock phosphates by crop roots

D.            AICRP-STCR (IISS in collaboration with other units in different zones)

• ·         Develop crop production function for targeted yields for different crops and cropping systems in relation to key soil health parameters identified, in place of the present practice in use of development of discrete linear equations for N, P & K, which may have very little scientific significance, and with due consideration to whether there is need for a ‘starter’ or ‘cut-off’ dose, under different agro-ecologies, and validate the results thereof

• ·         Equations should be developed  for wider/higher range of targeted yields for different crops and cropping systems, and the same may also be applicable for wide range of soil situations typical of the locale, including stress like rainfed conditions keeping in view of the climate change phenomena

• ·          There appears to be a need for the appropriate authority to re-design field layout which may be compatible to develop holistic and robust crop production functions for the purposes indicated above

E.            AINP-BNF (IISS in collaboration with other units in different zones) 

• Study microbial diversities and their characteristics especially for rhizosphere regions of different local and high yielding cultivars (good but again beyond `mining’ or `ferreting out’ useful species which we are already doing – the knowledge per se  will have a translational benefits only when combined with breeders/biotechnologist which I don’t foresee will be done in next 5 years given the capacity’ Such research is very easy for me to suggest but difficult to do. )   and develop consortia of beneficial microbes and if necessary through genetic improvement (well known now-ecological mining is best, GMO’s have poor survival, doubtful benefits, do not pass the research stage due to strict restrictions.) in order to improve crop productivity and also impart resilience to stress situations identified, with particular reference to rainfed

• ·         Develop microbial chips for bioassay/detect environmental pollutants particularly pesticides, metals and NO₃ and E.coli in water  (Not only IISS but it is outside ICAR mandate; NEERI (CSIR) mandate; even if ICAR takes it up-it will be at NBAIM, CMFRI, CIFA, CIFT)

• ·         Work on Rhizobium inoculation of preceding crops may be taken up to improve legume BNF

F.            Centres

          

 AICRP-LTFE

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      CRIJAF, Barrackpore

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• Evaluate fibre strength in relation to FYM application

• ·         The key soil health parameters worked out so far time to time need to be reviewed and finalized 

• ·          For impact analysis in farmers’ fields other areas like Belakova, etc. producing improved quality fibres under natural conditions need to be included

·         General (for all centres including IISS)

• ·         Each centre may adopt villages in areas representing typical of the locale, provide critical inputs, demonstrate the technologies developed, wherever relevant, and evaluate their impacts on socio-economic benefits, before making recommendations clearly defining the geographical areas and soil conditions for which they should be valid

G.           HRD and linkages (IISS, Bhopal and its collaborating units) 

• ·         There should be separate division/cell for impact assessment. One PS (Ag Econ), one SS (Ag Econ), one scientist (Ag Econ), one extension Senior Scientist, one Senior Scientist (Statistics), one Scientist (Statistics) should be recruited

• ·         Forage strong linkage with IASRI and NCAP for impact assessment and to utilize AICRP databases

• ·         There should be linkage with NRSA for studies on spectral reflectance through remote sensing and dynamics of soil and water properties and relate them with soil physical and soil water properties

• ·         Develop linkages with other non-ICAR institutes wherever relevant 

• ·          Manpower in AICRP at HQ needs to be increased. Posts vacant at the collaborating units should be filled up immediately, and basic logistics like computer, prepherals & necessary softwares, instruments, vehicles, etc. need to be strengthened