JISSS

Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science

0019-638X

Indian Society of Soil Science

jisss-49-4-004

RESEARCH NOTE

Fertilizer Use Situation in India

28^th Dr R.V. Tamhane Memorial Lecture*

Katyal

J. C.

Dr J.C. Katyal, Director, National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Hyderabad received his Bachelor's degree in agriculture from the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana in 1963 and both Master's degree (1966) and Doctorate (1969) from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.

The scientific career of Dr. Katyal started with his placement as Pool Officer of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research for few months in 1970. On being awarded a Post-doctoral Fellowship, he worked at the International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippines during 1970–1972. In September 1972 he returned to India to join as a Soil Scientist with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which position he held till December 1977 in Hyderabad. Subsequently he moved to Ludhiana as Project Coordinator (Micronutrient Scheme of ICAR) and continued there till June 1985. Between July 1985 and June 1988 he worked as a Visiting Soil Scientist and Coordinator of N program at the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA. In July 1988 he returned to India and joined the Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi as Principal Scientist and served as Head of the Division also there for few months in 1991 before moving to Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture in Hyderabad in September 1991 and continued in that position till February 1997 beforing assuming the responsibility of Directorship of NAARM.

In the last about 30 years he has gained experience in education administration and planning, leading, implementing and coordinating research at national and international levels. His area of specialization is in soil quality management under diverse land and crop environment in the tropics with particular reference to management and development of rainfed agriculture and natural resources endemic to it. The main area of research/development/management/coordination of Dr. Katyal include N-use efficiency by crops, research on micronutrients and integrated research on dryland agriculture. He has nearly 200 publications to his credit, which includes 55 research articles published in reputed journals at the national and international level.

Dr. Katyal is a recipient of several awards and honours. For his excellence in academic pursuits he was honoured by PAU, Ludhiana during his Bachelors degree programme (1963). Similarly he excelled in academics during his Masters programme in IARI (1966). He was conferred with, among others, the Norman E. Borlaug award (1995), Best Visiting Scientist award at the IFDC, USA (1986) and Life Time Achievement award-Micronutrients by SS Ranade Memorial Trust (2001). In 1996 Dr. Katyal received the prestigious Rafi Ahmed Kidwai award of ICAR. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Indian Society of Soil Science.

Among the several special assignments undertaken by Dr. Katyal, mention may be made of (i) Expert Consultation on Fertilizer Use under Multiple Cropping Systems of FAG, (ii) FAG Technical Bulletin on Micronutrients, (iii) Consultant to World Bank on Projects relating to Rainfed Farming in India, (iv) Expert consultation provided in the preparation of detailed syllabus on Dry Farming for UOC, etc.

Dr. Katyal has the distinction of serving as Expert Member/Member-Secretary/Chairman of various Committees/Panels in India as well as outside the country at different points of time.

National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 500030.

*Delivered on 31^st October 2001 during the 66th Annual Convention of ISSS held at the Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur

122001

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