Area of specialization
Agronomy (Microbe-Mediated Integrated Nutrient Management, Conservation Agriculture, Precision Irrigation, Carbon Sequestration, Cropping System Research and Climate Resilient Agronomy)
Research area
Microbe-mediated integrated nutrient management, conservation agriculture, precision irrigation, carbon sequestration, cropping system research and climate-resilient agronomy.
Significant research achievements
- Developed a zero tillage methodology with a microbial consortium for improving productivity and soil health of wheat under limited irrigation.
- Developed a Fuller’s earth (multani mitti) based cyanobacterial bioinoculant for rice.
- Identified microbial genetic stocks and submitted their 16S rRNA gene sequences to the NCBI GenBank.
- Developed a double-crop residue mulching plus hydrogel methodology with 5 kg Zn/ha and a zinc solubilizer for the pigeonpea–wheat system.
- Standardized double zero tillage and foliar phosphorus fertilization with microbial inoculants for maize productivity and quality in a maize–wheat rotation.
Awards and recognitions
- Young Scientist Award, Agriculture Entrepreneur Environmental & Technology Developmental Society
- Institute Best Scientist Award, ICAR-NBAIM Mau
- Best Ph.D. Thesis Award, GKV Society
- ICAR Junior and Senior Research Fellowships
- Editor, Indian Journal of Agronomy; Editor, BMC Environmental Science
Publications
Personal information
- Date of joining ICAR
02 July 2018
- Discipline and specialization
Agronomy (Microbe-Mediated Integrated Nutrient Management, Conservation Agriculture, Precision Irrigation, Carbon Sequestration, Cropping System Research and Climate Resilient Agronomy)
Training & Exposure
- Advances in Production and Post-Production Technologies
in Pulses for Achieving Self-Sufficiency, Food and Nutritional Security (from January 29 to
February 18, 2025.) - Training courses on ISO/IES 17025:2017 Requirements and Internal Audit (24-25 and 29-30 September 2025)
Professional Information
Contribution to the scientific advancement
- Developed methodology of zero tillage along with microbial consortium for improving productivity and soil health of wheat under limited irrigation.
- Development of Fullers earth (Multani Mitti) based cyanobacterial bioinoculant for Rice.
- Identified microbial genetic stock/accessions and their 16S rRNA gene sequences of Fungi were submitted to NCBI GeneBank.
- Developed methodology of Double-crop basis residue mulching + hydrogel along with 5 kg Zn ha−1 + Zn solubilizer for improving productivity, soil health and root development in pigeonpea-wheat cropping System.
- Standardized Double zero tillage and foliar phosphorus fertilization coupled with microbial inoculants practices for enhance maize productivity and quality in a maize–wheat rotation.
Current area of research
- Enhancing Sustainability of Maize-Chickpea Cropping System through Precision Irrigation Strategies.
- Sustainable nutrient management in pulse-based cropping system through microbial interventions under diverse tillage regimes
Publications
- Kumar, A., Rana, K.S., Choudhary, A.K. et al. (2021). Energy budgeting and carbon footprints of zero-tilled pigeonpea–wheat cropping system under sole or dual crop basis residue mulching and Zn-fertilization in a semi-arid agro-ecology. Energy, 231, 120862.
- Kumar, A., Rana, K.S., Choudhary, A.K. et al. (2022). Sole- or dual-crop basis residue mulching and Zn fertilization lead to improved productivity, rhizo-modulation and soil health in zero-tilled pigeonpea–wheat cropping system. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 22(2), 1193–1214.
- Pradhan, A., Rana, K.S., Choudhary, A.K., Bana, R.S., Thapa, S., Dash, A.K., Singh, J.P., Kumar, A., Harish, M.N., Hasanain, M. and Kumar, A*. (2025). Dual-crop basis residue-retained bed-planting and zinc fertilization lead to improved food-energy-water-carbon nexus in pearl millet-wheat cropping system in semi-arid agro-ecologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 215, 115579. (Corresponding Authors) (Impact Factor: 16.3).
- Verma, G., Dhaka, A.K., Singh, B., Kumar, A*., Choudhary, A.K., Kumar, A., Kamboj, N.K., Hasanain, M., Singh, S., Bhupenchandra, I., Sanwal, P. and Kumar, S. (2024). Productivity, soil health, and carbon management index of soybean-wheat cropping system under double zero-tillage and natural-farming based organic nutrient management in north-Indian plains. Science of The Total Environment, 917, 170418. (Corresponding Authors).
- Hasanain, M., Singh, V.K., Rathore, S.S., Meena, V.S., Meena, S.K., Shekhawat, K., Singh, R.K., Dwivedi, B.S., Bhatia, A., Upadhyay, P.K., Singh, R., Babu, S., Kumar, A., Kumar, A., Fatima, A., Verma, G., Kumar, S., Sharma, K. and Singh, N. (2025). Sustainable strategies in maize-wheat systems: Integrating tillage, residue, and nutrient management for food-energy-carbon footprint optimization. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 211, 115316.
Award and fellowship
- Young Scientist Award by Agriculture Entrepreneur Environmental & Technology Developmental Society.
- Institute Best Scientist Award by ICAR-NBAIM, Mau.
- Review Editor of Pantnagar Journal of Research.
- Best Ph.D. Thesis Award by GKV Society.
- ICAR – Junior Research Fellowship.
- ICAR – Senior Research Fellowship.