PAU Gets New Soil Science Head Dr Babu Singh Brar

Ludhiana, April 1, 2016: During the recently held meeting of Board of Management, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Dr Babu Singh Brar has been appointed as Head, Department of Soil Science, PAU. Dr Brar pursued his B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons) in 1978, M.Sc.Soil Science in 1980 and Ph.D.Soil Science in 1986 from PAU. He was awarded Bhava Atomic Research Centre Fellowship during Ph.D. from the Government of India. He was also a recipient of University Merit Fellowship during B.Sc. and M.Sc. He started his professional career in 1984 as Assistant Soil Scientist and was promoted as Soil Scientist in 1990 and Senior Soil Scientist in 1998. Dr Brar has handled seven international/national projects as Principal Investigator (PI) and is presently, handling three research projects as PI. Besides, he has submitted several research projects for further funding. He has also been the Incharge of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on “Long Term Fertilizer Experiment” since 1995.
Dr Brar has made significant technology oriented contributions to the phosphorus nutrition of crops, management of poor quality irrigation water and soil sodicity; sulphur requirement in oilseeds, pluses and cereals; effect of long-term fertilizer application on nutrient dynamics (macro and micronutients), carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, N2O) emission and its management through nutrient management under maize-wheat and rice-wheat cropping systems. Based on his significant contributions to research, 11 new recommendations have been included in the PAU Packages of Practices and are widely adopted by the stakeholders. Dr Brar has guided many M.Sc. and Ph. D students as major advisor. Three of his students have got admission at the University of Florida and North Carolina University, USA. One of his students has won a Gold Medal from International Potash Institute on the basis of her research work. Dr Brar has published 76 research papers in refereed international and national journals, nine proceeding papers, one book, 10 book chapters, 100 conference papers, 49 technical papers, four practical manuals and three bulletins. He is a recipient of Imphos - FAI Award (2007) by World Phosphate Institute of Cassablanca, Morocco and Fertilizer Association of India; Shiksha Rattan Purshkar by India International Friendship Society (2007) and Chaudhary Devi Lal Outstanding AICRP Award (2004).