Training course on “assessing soil plant atmosphere continuum (SPAC) for enhanced input use efficiency” concludes at PAU

Ludhiana, October 24, 2019: The 32nd national level three-week ICAR-Centre for Advanced Faculty Training (CAFT) training course on “Assessing Soil Plant Atmosphere Continuum (SPAC) for Enhanced Input Use Efficiency” concluded at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The training programme was organized by the Department of Soil Science, PAU, in which a total of 24 scientists from ICAR institutes and state agricultural universities representing 10 states of the country participated. The chief guest Dr (Mrs) GK Sangha, Dean, Post Graduate Studies, PAU, highlighted the importance of enhancing input use efficiency for managing natural resources. She exhorted the participating scientists to remain in contact with the faculty of Soil Science. Later, she distributed certificates among the participants. Dr OP Choudhary, Head, Department of Soil Science, PAU, and Director, CAFT, congratulated the participants on the successful completion of the training programme. Earlier, he welcomed the dignitaries, resource persons and the participants. Dr Rajeev Sikka, Chief Coordinator, CAFT, informed that 32 lectures and 11 practical were organized besides visits to research farms of PAU and Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA). Lectures were delivered by eminent scientists on nutrient, water and residue management, alternate uses of crop wastes, agroforestry, organic farming, farming system approaches and precision farming techniques for enhancing input use efficiency. Hands on training was given on gas chromatograph, CHNS analyzer, cropping simulation modelling, GreenSeeker, etc. He further said the experts from Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal; International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) BISA, South Dakota State University, USA and PRSC also delivered lectures. The participants appreciated the efforts of the entire CAFT team and also expressed their views on learning advanced concepts and methodologies during this training programme.