GHG inventory of rice cultivation, managed soils and crop residue burning

Division prepares the inventories of methane and nitrous oxide emission from crop sector and developed the emission factors for methane and nitrous oxide, which helped in rationalizing the estimates of methane emission from rice cultivation. The annual methane emission estimates from Indian rice paddies were revised from 37.5MT to 3.37MT by the research carried out at the division. Utilization of Azolla for reducing greenhouse gas intensity and to reduce the global warming potential by 15-20% in rice cultivation. Developed the methanotrophs consortium for 7-11% reduction in methane emission from rice field.

Development of simulation models and decision support systems, yield forecasting and vulnerability assessment: Several simulation model based DSS such as InfoCrop, InfoCrop v2.1, InfoSoil, InfoRCT, CocoSim v1 (InfoCrop-Coconut), DRAKSHA (VitisMod), Vignarad Sim v1, Spinach Simulation Model v1, IKSHU Cane v1., etc. All these decision support systems are for crop management in tropics, developed to assist environmental impact assessment and sustainable land-use management. InfoCrop v2,1 is downloaded in 44 countries with over 3000 users.

Assessments on impacts of climate change on major crops and adaptation gains: Using simulation analysis, the climate change impacts on major crops such as rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, mustard, ground nut, soybean, chick pea, pigeon pea, cotton, potato, and coconut. The assessments indicated significant yield loss (2.5 to 18% by 2030s and more in later period) if no adaptation is followed and adaptation can significantly improve productivity up to 60%. These assessments on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability are used for policy support and India’s National Communication to UNFCCC.

Identification of climate smart agricultural practices for adaptation and mitigation of greenhouse gas emission: The division identified site-specific nutrient management, inhibitors, coated fertilizers, methane-utilizing bacteria, biochar, leaf color charts, drip irrigation and fertigation to reduce GHG emissions from soils. It also optimized mitigation methods like direct-seeded rice, aerobic rice, system of rice intensification, alternate flooding for rice and reduced tillage for different cultivation systems.

Estimation of carbon, nitrogen and water footprints of crops and cropping systems: Division has estimated the C, N and water footprints of rice-wheat cropping system and maize wheat cropping system in the different locations of the country. Division is working on the life cycle assessment of different products of rice, wheat, maize, and vegetable products. As well as carbon footprint

Development of climate smart nano-fertilizers: Several climate smart NF such as Chitosan-Urea Nano Composite, Zeolite-Urea Nano Composite, Zeolite-Urea-Ammonium Nitrate, Nano Composite, Metal doped nitrogenous hydroxyapatite nanohybrids, Chitosan-Phosphate Micro Composite and ZnO Nano fertilizers are developed by Division for enhancing the nutrient use efficiency and reducing the environmental losses.

Solid waste management for energy and manure: Developed dry fermentation technology for the production of energy and manure from agricultural and kitchen wastes. Optimized the process conditions for maximizing the biogas production from agricultural wastes. 

Biofuels production: Isolated the several microbial strains for optimization of saccharification and fermentation processes for biofuel production s using agricultural residue. Improvement in physicochemical, biological and enzymatic processes of improvement in saccharification. Agricultural and allied industrial waste utilization and volarization for bioenergy, biofertilizers and value added products.

Mitigation of environmental pollutions: Evaluation and utilization of phytosiderophore and bacterial siderophore to improve the iron and zinc efficiency and remediation of heavy metal toxicity in contaminated soils. Quantified the heavy metals contamination in vegetables in Delhi NCR and assessed the heavy metals toxicity in the consumers. Identified Chlorella minutissima species for phycoremediation of sewage wastewater to reduce the TDS level (upto 80%).

Nutrio-physiology and radiation biology: Identified the suitable radiation dose for ionizing radiation (gamma radiation) for postharvest preservation and crop improvement.

Evaluation of ecosystem services: Division is working on quantification of ecosystem services from different agro ecosystems, we have developed the methodology for the valuation of ES from poplar based system, conservation, organic farming and impact of Carbon di oxide and Ozone on pollinators behaviour and Pollination Ecosystem services.

Technologies, Patents, Softwares, Copyrights, Concepts & Methodology

Recognition

§  Prof. Pramod Kumar Aggarwal: ICAR-National Professor, Lead author IPCC AR 4-Noble Peace Prize, TWAS Award, South Asia Lead-CCAFS-Climate Change and Food Security South Asia, Lead, ACASA, BISA.

§  Dr. S.K. Bandyopadhyay: Consultant FAO Mission Team Leader. FAO of the UN, 1999; Technical Advisor, Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal, Ministry of water Resources, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, (2018 and 2019)

§  Dr. Himanshu Pathak: Co-Facilitator, Rice-Wheat Consortium for the IGP, IRRI-India, New Delhi 2006-09; Lead Author of IPCC  2019 refinement to 2006 guidelines; Lead Author IPCC 5th Assessment Report, 2010-2014; DARE/ICAR representative to UNFCCC, 2011-2015; Director NRRI, Director NIASM; Secretary DARE & DG ICAR, DG ICRISAT

§  Dr. Anita Chaudhary: Indo- US professorship in Microbiology by American Society of Microbiology and Indo USSTF (2010-2011); DBT National Associateship (1997-1999) 

§  Dr. S. Naresh Kumar: Member, Steering Council (2018 onwards), Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Programme (AgMIP), NASA, GISS, Columbia University, USA; Member, WMO Task Team on Climate and Agricultural Modelling for Sustainable Agriculture, WMO, Geneva (2019-2021), WMO Task Team on Climate Services-Agriculture, WMO, Geneva (2021-24), Core group  member C-AGR Expert Team, WMO (2025 onwards); Member, Panel on Environmental Services Standards, Bureau of Indian Standards, GoI (2020 onwards); Convener, BIS Panel on Sustainable Agriculture (2025 onwards), Member, Drought Management, GoI (2025 onwards), TSC on POP -National Action Plan, MoEF&CC, GoI (2024 onwards), Expert for IVA Assessments on agriculture for National Communications and Biennial Transparent Reports to UNFCCC through MoEF&CC, Member on DST committees. IPCC & GoI Reviewer for IPCC reports.

§  Dr. Navindu Gupta: Best Researcher Award Awarded (2007).

§  Dr. Bhupinder Singh: Member, Scientific Panel on GMO and Foods, FSSAI, Govt. (2016-19); Member, Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards, FSSAI, Govt. (2009-12, 2012-15); Serving as Radiological Safety Officer in IARI, New Delhi

§  Dr. Shiv Prasad: Best 30 RCR recognition from Elsevier (2019)

§  Dr. Arti Bhatia: Expert GHG consultant for MOEFCC, GoI for India's INC, SNC, BUR, TNC & BTR, UNFCCC certified Technical expert reviewer for national GHG inventories, UNFCCC certified reviewer for country adaptation communications, Reviewer of IPCC Assessment Report AR5, AR6, Expert member of MoAFW methodologies panel for carbon credit trading system (CCTS) in agriculture, Technical expert for Niti ayog committee for Net zero in Agriculture, Country expert for FAOs report -Agrifood systems in the voluntary carbon market: status and prospects, Principal Investigator for United Kingdom Research and Innovation  (UKRI) funded- South Asian Nitrogen Hub project  for India, Expert Member of National Inventory management system (NIMS), MoEFCC, GoI, Consultant for Carbon removal India Alliance for CDR in agriculture

§  Dr. Niveta Jain: Member of peer and core expert committee, for standards of emissions and ambient air, CPCB, New Delhi (2014); Member of Editorial board, Emission Factor Database, IPCC (2018-21); Reviewer of IPCC Assessment Report AR6, WG-III; Group Member (Biomass characterization) TIFAC, New Delhi, 2017-18; Member of Committee 'Net-zero Emissions', MoEFCC, New Delhi, Member of Editorial board, Emission Factor Database, IPCC (2018- till date); Expert Review Team member of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (2022 onwards); Lead Author, Methodology for inventory of Short Lived Climate Forcers, IPCC Seventh Assessment Report

§  Dr. D. K. Sharma: Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship (2009-10)

§  Dr. Manoj Shrivastava: Endeavour Research Award (2011) (Government of Australia) Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships (2021-22); Cleanup Conference Fellowship 2019 (CRC CARE Australia); Member of Expert Committee of HPCB Constitute constituted by Hon’ble NGT; Member of Expert Committee of as a representative of ICAR to provide technical guidance to develop Bio-Gas plants; Member of Expert Committee of as a representative of ICAR to provide technical guidance to develop CBG plants in Punjab, Expert member for Environmental Sciences discipline of Selection Committee of Haryana Public Service Commission

§  Dr. Ranjan Bhattacharyya: Expert member of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils, FAO, Rome, Italy; Honorary Principal Fellow at School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, the University of Queensland, Australia; the 12th International Congress Commemoration Award from the Indian Society of Soil Science, India, in 2019. ICAR Team Research Award (Team Leader), 2007-08; EMCR Fellowship from INSA, 2017-18; Shri B. Lakshminarayana Award, 2009-10; Dr B.C. Deb Memorial Award, 2010-11; Scholarship Award from the International Soil & Tillage Research Organization (ISTRO), 2009; ISTRO Board Member, 2015-2018; Asian Scientist of the Year Award, 2009 by WASWAC; Scholarship Award from the European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC), 2007; European Union Fellowship for pursuing Ph.D. from the University of Wolverhampton, UK, 2006-2009; Associate Editor (2015-2017): Agronomy Journal; Editorial Board Member (2013-2020): Geoderma; Editorial Board Member (2015 to date): Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Editorial Board Member (2021 to date), Soil and Tillage Research; Fellow: National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, West Bengal Academy of Science & Technology, Royal Geographical Society,UK (2016).

§  Dr. Sandeep Kumar: Expert in Biennial Update Report (BUR) 4 India, MoEFCC

§  Dr. Sunita Yadav: Lead Anchor in Pusa Samachar