LAND RESOURCES research programme
NARC
Land Resources Research Program (LRRP), established in 1982, focuses on producing more food and fiber on less land using fewer inputs while protecting the environment. The proceeding pages provide an overview of its mandate, accomplishments, services offered and future thrusts.
THE
MISSION
Provide scientific bases for enhancing and sustaining soil productivity and
protecting the environment.
OBJECTIVES
Conduct strategic soils research to understand soil physical, chemical and biological processes.
Develop technologies for efficient soil input management and environmental protection.
Provide technical support to other research organizations, educational institutions, and relevant industry.
THRUST AREAS AND ACTIVITIES
Soil
Fertility and Plant Nutrition
Develop Optimum Nutrient Management Technologies for Sustaining Soil
Productivity
Objectives
Determine soil and plant nutrient requirements for sustaining crop productivity.
Enhance nutrient use efficiency.
Develop integrated nutrient supply systems.
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Soil
Salinity
Develop Technologies for Managing Salt-affected Soils and Brackish Waters for
Sustained Agricultural Productivity
Objectives:
Improve productivity of salt-affected soils, by reclamation and saline agriculture.
Safe use of brackish waters for agricultural production.
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Soil
Biology and Biochemistry
Develop Technologies for Managing Soil Fertility through Biological Means
Objectives
Study soil biota and develop bio-fertilizers.
Develop legume-cereal cropping systems for sustaining productivity.
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Bio-Fertilizer Production |
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Biofertilizer Economize on Chemical Fertilizer Input |
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Soil
Physics and Mineralogy
Yield Increase through Proper Soil Management Practices
Objectives
Study water, tillage and crop residue management for enhancing soil productivity.
Characterize soil mineral make-up.
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Deep
Plowing of Compacted Soil |
Soil Environment
Protect Soil Environment through Proper Management of Pollutants
Objectives
Determine shallow groundwater, soil, and crop produce quality in agricultural systems under long-term sewage and wastewater applications.
Understand the dynamics and kinetics of heavy-metal release processes, re-distribution (leaching) and transformation processes.
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Soil structure affects nutrients leaching |
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SALIENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Identified and established deficiencies of boron, zinc, iron and sulfur in field and horticultural crops, and developed cost-effective and adoptable technologies for their management.
Mapped spatial variability of nutrient status in cotton-wheat areas and Potohar plateau.
Developed high efficiency fertilizer use technologies, like phosphate band placement in wheat, zinc-enriched rice nursery, and leaf color chart-based nitrogen management in rice.
Developed economical technologies for managing salt-affected soils and brackish waters.
Calibrated efficient, economical, and easy soil tests for comprehensive soil fertility evaluation, and established interpretation criteria.
Quantified N2 fixed by pulse legumes grown on farmers' fields
Developed Biozote biofertilizer for enhancing legume crop productivity.
Developed plant analysis diagnostic criteria for cereal, legume, and oilseed crops.
Developed a tillage management strategy for sustaining rainfed crop productivity.
SERVICES OFFERED
Soil, plant, water, and manure analytical advisory service to international, federal, provincial and commercial organizations, NGOs and farmers.
Biozote biofertilizer for provincial and federal agencies and farmers.
Reference fertilizer analysis laboratory.
Training of provincial scientists, industry personnel, and farmers.
FUTURE THRUSTS
Integrated nutrient management strategies for sustaining productivity of major cropping systems.
Micronutrient biofortification for enhancing crop productivity and mitigating malnutrition in humans and animals.
Nutrient management strategies for fruit orchards and intensive vegetable production systems.
Biofertilizer development for enhancing soil Phosphorus availability.
N - Biofertilizer development for important cereal crops.
Carbon sequestration by crop residue recycling, conservation tillage, and eroded-land rehabilitation.
Saline agriculture for enhancing biomass productivity and soil resource sustainability.
Alleviate soil physical constraints.
Minimize soil environment pollution.
Characterize mineralogy of benchmark soils.
BIBLIOGRAPHY- Updated Soil Sciences Research at NARC
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Dr. M. Ehsan Akhtar |
PSO/ Program Leader |
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Ehsan-narc@yahoo.com |
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