The Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS) was established in 1988, as an Indian Council of Agricultural Research subsidiary at the lake city of Bhopal, in Madhya Pradesh, India with an aim to promote scientific research on soil sciences. The Institute covers All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Soil Test Crop Response Studies at 17 centres, All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Micronutrients and All India Network Project on Biofertilizers at 11 centres each in India.[2][3]
IISS provides training and research facilities on subjects such as Soil testing, Techniques for improving nutrient and water efficiency, Carbon sequestration and Soil quality assessment.[4]
The Institute is equipped with facilities such as air conditioned conference hall, committee room, lecture theatres, audio-visual aids, laboratory facilities, library and guest house of international standards and maintains a research farm extending to 50 hectares.[5]
The Institute is mandated to Provide Scientific Basis for Enhancing and Sustaining Productivity of Soil Resource with Minimal Environmental Degradation[6] and the primary objectives are set as:
Conduct of basic and advanced research on soil with regard to its physical, chemical and biological processes for efficient management of nutrients, water and energy.
Identification of efficient and environment friendly soil management technologies.
Assisting other research organizations in India on agriculture, forestry, fishery and environmental researches.
Information exchange through various modes of information dissemination and collaboration with State Agricultural Universities and National and International Research Organizations.
The division maintains a database of the effect of soil pollution due to overuse of chemicals and tracks major environmental issues related to organic farming.[9]
Statistics and Computer Application Section
The research activities of the division is focused on managing nutrient and water levels by applying statistics and computer applications.
Agricultural Knowledge Management Unit (AKMU)
IISS hosts an Agricultural Knowledge Management Unit (AKMU) to provide communication facilities to the scientists and the institute, in general. A 75 node LAN and an own email server are in place, operated with the assistance of institute owned VSAT. The web site of the institute is also maintained by the AKMU.
Facilities
Library, Information and Documentation services
The Institute maintains a library which stocks 1805 books, 1281 Bound Journals, 661 Annual Reports, 28 Foreign Journals, and 43 Indian Journals. It provides document lending, reference and reprographic Services and has AGRIS database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Training and Referral Soil Testing Laboratory
TRSL laboratory assist the scientists to explore novel methods for soil and plant analysis and is equipped with soil and plant analysis equipment.
The other facilities include two screen houses for the conduct of pot experiments, conference hall and conference room fitted with audio visual equipment, training hostel, staff recreation club and indoor and outdoor games facilities.
Research Projects
IISS undertakes research projects under All India Coordinator Research Projects (AICRP), some of which are:
Long-Term Fertilizer Experiments (LTFE) Project: Project on the impact of chemical fertilizer on productivity and soil quality. The project was inaugurated in 1970 and is carried out at 11 centres. The project is now known as Long-term fertilizer experiments to study changes in soil quality, crop productivity and sustainability after its mandate was expanded.
Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) Project: The beginning of the project was in 1967 and 13 centres are participating in the project.[10]
PCM Project: The project, which started in 1967, aims to study the effects of micronutrient efficiency on various crop varieties. It is actively participated in by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Eleven centres are participating in the project.
AINPB Project: The mandate of the project is set as:
To exploit the soil biodiversity in various agro-ecologies for biofertilizer applications in diverse cropping systems.
To study the impact of soil management practices on functional diversity of microorganisms involved in key microbial functions and soil health using genomic tools.
Formulation and testing of mixed biofertilizers in diverse cropping systems.
To improve biofertilizer technology with particular reference to quality, carriers, consortia and delivery systems.
To diversify biofertilizer research and application in drylands, mountainous regions, tribal areas and other underexplored ecosystems.
Research-Adoption-Impact continuum analysis of Biofertilizer usage
Publications
A. Subba Rao; Sanjay Srivastava (2001). Soil Test Based Fertilizer Recommendations for Targeted Yields of Crops. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
C. L. Acharya, P. K. Ghosh, Indian Institute of Soil Science, A. Subba Rao (2001). Indigenous Nutrient Management Practices - Wisdom Alive in India. Indian Institute of Soil Science.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
C. L. Acharya (1998). Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply System for Sustainable Productivity. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
Anand Swarup; D. Damodar Reddy; R. N. Prasad (1998). Long Term Soil Fertility Management through Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
Anand Swarup; D. Damodar Reddy; R. N. Prasad (1999). Sulfur Management for Soil seed and Pulse Crops. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
P. Ramesh (2009). Efficient Use of On-Farm and Off-Farm Resources in Organic Farming. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
K. Sammi Reddy (2008). Soil Science Research in India: A Bibliography of IISS Scientist's Research Contribution. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
K. N. Singh; etal. (2007). Prescription of optimum doses of Fertilizers for targeted yield of crops through soil fertility maps in different status of India. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
Guriqbal Singh (2010). Enhancing Productivity of Soybean _Wheat System by Balanced and Integrated Nutrient management on Black Soils of Madhya Pradesh. Indian Institute of Soil Science. ISBN9781845936457.
A.P. Singh (2006). Boron Nutrition of crops in soils of Bihar. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
T. K. Ganguly (2006). Consultancy Services in soil Quality, Nutrient and water management Technologies and experts. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
H. N. Rawankar (2004). Effect of Long Term Fertilizer Application and Cropping on the Sustenance of Soil Fertility and Productivity Under Sorghum-wheat Sequence in Vertisol. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
Indian Institute of Soil Science (2004). Proceedings of the National Seminar on Standards and Technology for Rural/Urban Compost. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
A. K. Mishra (2005). Proceedings of National Seminar on Existing Water resources and Technologies for Enhancing Agricultural Production in North Central India. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
M. V. Singh (2004). Nutrient Dynamics, Crop Productivity and Sustainability under long term fertilizer Experiments in India. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
S. P. Sharma (2005). Long term Effect of Fertilizer, Manure and lime Application on Changes in Soil Quality, Crop Productivity and Sustainability of maize-Wheat System in alfisol of North Himalayas. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
M. Dakshinamoorthy (2005). Soil Quality. Crop Productivity and Sustainability as Influenced by Long term Fertilizer Application and Continuous Cropping of Finger millet-Maize-Cowpea Sequence in swell-Shrink Soil. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
B. S. Brar (2004). Soil Quality, Crop Productivity and Sustainability Experiences under Long Term Maize-Wheat Cropping in Inceptisol. Indian Institute of Soil Science.
IISS has published many more books[11] and research papers.[12]
Agricultural science is a broad multidisciplinary field of biology that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. Professionals of the agricultural science are called agricultural scientists or agriculturists.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to agriculture:
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants by agriculture for food, fuel, fiber, chemicals, recreation, or land conservation. Agronomy has come to include research of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. It is the application of a combination of sciences such as biology, chemistry, economics, ecology, earth science, and genetics. Professionals of agronomy are termed agronomists.
Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways meeting society's present food and textile needs, without compromising the ability for current or future generations to meet their needs. It can be based on an understanding of ecosystem services. There are many methods to increase the sustainability of agriculture. When developing agriculture within sustainable food systems, it is important to develop flexible business processes and farming practices. Agriculture has an enormous environmental footprint, playing a significant role in causing climate change, water scarcity, water pollution, land degradation, deforestation and other processes; it is simultaneously causing environmental changes and being impacted by these changes. Sustainable agriculture consists of environment friendly methods of farming that allow the production of crops or livestock without causing damage to human or natural systems. It involves preventing adverse effects on soil, water, biodiversity, and surrounding or downstream resources, as well as to those working or living on the farm or in neighboring areas. Elements of sustainable agriculture can include permaculture, agroforestry, mixed farming, multiple cropping, and crop rotation.
Agroecology is an academic discipline that studies ecological processes applied to agricultural production systems. Bringing ecological principles to bear can suggest new management approaches in agroecosystems. The term can refer to a science, a movement, or an agricultural practice. Agroecologists study a variety of agroecosystems. The field of agroecology is not associated with any one particular method of farming, whether it be organic, regenerative, integrated, or industrial, intensive or extensive, although some use the name specifically for alternative agriculture.
The Green Revolution was a period that began in the 1960s during which agriculture in India was converted into a modern industrial system by the adoption of technology, such as the use of high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, mechanized farm tools, irrigation facilities, pesticides, and fertilizers. Mainly led by agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan in India, this period was part of the larger Green Revolution endeavor initiated by Norman Borlaug, which leveraged agricultural research and technology to increase agricultural productivity in the developing world. Varieties or strains of crops can be selected by breeding for various useful characteristics such as disease resistance, response to fertilizers, product quality and high yields.
Deficit irrigation (DI) is a watering strategy that can be applied by different types of irrigation application methods. The correct application of DI requires thorough understanding of the yield response to water and of the economic impact of reductions in harvest. In regions where water resources are restrictive it can be more profitable for a farmer to maximize crop water productivity instead of maximizing the harvest per unit land. The saved water can be used for other purposes or to irrigate extra units of land. DI is sometimes referred to as incomplete supplemental irrigation or regulated DI.
Agricultural microbiology is a branch of microbiology dealing with plant-associated microbes and plant and animal diseases. It also deals with the microbiology of soil fertility, such as microbial degradation of organic matter and soil nutrient transformations. The primary goal of agricultural microbiology is to comprehensively explore the interactions between beneficial microorganisms like bacteria and fungi with crops. It also deals with the microbiology of soil fertility, such as microbial degradation of organic matter and soil nutrient transformations.
Soil management is the application of operations, practices, and treatments to protect soil and enhance its performance. It includes soil conservation, soil amendment, and optimal soil health. In agriculture, some amount of soil management is needed both in nonorganic and organic types to prevent agricultural land from becoming poorly productive over decades. Organic farming in particular emphasizes optimal soil management, because it uses soil health as the exclusive or nearly exclusive source of its fertilization and pest control.
The Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) focuses on agricultural research and extension in irrigated rice-based ecosystems. In partnership with national agricultural research and extension systems (NARES) and the private sector, the IRRC provides a platform for the dissemination and adoption of natural resource management (NRM) technologies in Asian countries. The IRRC is currently active in 11 countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. It aims to strengthen NARES-driven interdisciplinary research, link research and extension, facilitate rice farmers' uptake of technological innovations, and enable environmentally sound rice production to expand to feed growing populations.
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) was launched during February 2011 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) with the funding from the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The mega project has three major objectives of strategic research, technology demonstrations and capacity building. Assessment of the impact of climate change simultaneous with formulation of adaptive strategies is the prime approach under strategic research across all sectors of agriculture, dairying and fisheries.
Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi is a research Station under the Central Zone of Kerala Agricultural University at Pattambi in Palakkad district of Kerala, India.
The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) is an autonomous organisation engaged in agricultural research related to spices in India. The institute has its headquarters in Moozhikkal, Silver Hills, Kozhikode, Kerala and is a subsidiary of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, under the Ministry of Agriculture, India.
The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) is an autonomous organization acting as a nodal agency for basic, strategic, anticipatory and applied research on various aspects of horticulture such as fruits, vegetable, ornamental, medicinal and aromatic plants and mushrooms in India. The institute has its headquarters in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India and is a subsidiary of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, under the Ministry of Agriculture, India. It recently has been ranked 1st for the combined years 2019-20 and 2020–21 by the ICAR.
The Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE) is a higher seat of learning, research and development in the field of agricultural engineering, situated in the lake city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is an autonomous body, an Indian Council of Agricultural Research subsidiary, under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer's Welfare, Government of India.
The Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI) is an autonomous institute of higher learning, established under the umbrella of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India for advanced research in the field of soil sciences. The institute is located on Kachawa Road in Karnal, in the state of Haryana, 125 km (78 mi) from the Indian capital of New Delhi.
The Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research is an autonomous institute of higher learning, under the umbrella of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India for advanced research in sugar cane agriculture. The Institute is located on Raibareli Road, Dilkusha in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. While, The Central Sugarcane Research Institute established in 1912 is located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. It works also under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
Regenerative agriculture is a conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems. It focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle, enhancing ecosystem services, supporting biosequestration, increasing resilience to climate change, and strengthening the health and vitality of farm soil.
ICAR - Directorate of Groundnut Research (ICAR-DGR) formerly known as National Research Centre for Groundnut is a premier national level institute set up by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture of India to cater to the needs of agricultural science research in the field of groundnut (peanut) crop in India. ICAR-DGR was established in 1979, Gujarat to give a fillip to research for enhancing productivity of groundnut in keeping with its importance among the oilseed crops of India. The research centre came into being as the first crop commodity research unit under the category of NRC's of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, as an autonomous body set up as a registered society. The National Research Centre on Groundnut (NRCG) was elevated to the level of a Directorate in the year 2009 and rechristened as the Directorate of Groundnut Research.
Seaweed fertiliser is organic fertilizer made from seaweed that is used in agriculture to increase soil fertility and plant growth. The use of seaweed fertilizer dates back to antiquity and has a broad array of benefits for soils. Seaweed fertilizer can be applied in a number of different forms, including refined liquid extracts and dried, pulverized organic material. Through its composition of various bioactive molecules, seaweed functions as a strong soil conditioner, bio-remediator, and biological pest control, with each seaweed phylum offering various benefits to soil and crop health. These benefits can include increased tolerance to abiotic stressors, improved soil texture and water retention, and reduced occurrence of diseases.
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