Research :
Significant achievements
Soil test based integrated plant nutrient management with special emphasis to Phosphorus and Potassium
INM involving secondary and micronutrients in groundnut and castor
Nutrient efficient microbial isolates as substitutes to chemical fertilizers particularly P and K and Enhancing the availability of phosphorus and potassium by application of microbial consortia in rainfed crops
Effective methods of converting agricultural waste management for nutrient recycling
Diagnosis and correction of nutritional disorders in farmer fields
Problem soils management
Nutrient management in paddy nurseries due to usage of poor quality water with high RSC.
Organic farming in dryland agriculture
P fractionation studies with the application of P fertilizer along with organics
Mean differential yield was at par in both HRFD + FYM @ 4 t/ha (986 kg/ha) and RFD (963 kg/ha). However control (749 kg/ha) recorded lowest mean pod yield.
Proved that the Uniform distribution of rainfall during the crop growth period in critical stages is very important rather than the total rainfall
After non application of fertilizers and manures for the past 24 years all the treatments regestered yields more or less equal to that of control.
Recorded that the initial soil organic carbon content increased from 0.30 to 0.60 % in treatment received with HRFD + FYM @ 4 t/ha compared to other treatments
The initial available phosphorous content (20 kg/ha) increased to 95 kg/ha in treatments received with full rec. fertilizer dose as inorganics alone compared to other treatments, whereas available potassium content increased over initial values in treatments received with organics or organics in combination with inorganics, over control
The treatment with half the recommended dose of fertilizer (10:20:20 kg N, P2O5, K2O) along with FYM @ 4 t/ha recorded higher Soil Organic carbon stocks
From ICAR, New Delhi funded National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) on “Assessment and improvement of soil quality and resilience for rainfed production system” developed soil quality index under rainfed groundnut productivity system revealed that integrated use of both organic (FYM @ 4 t/ha) and inorganics (10-20-20 N, P2O5, K2O kg/ha) fertilizer emerged as best practice and found to be not only sustain but also upgrade the soil quality index and significantly correlated with groundnut pod yield.
Application of chemical fertilizers based on soil test values was developed for rainfed groundnut for scarce rainfall zone of Andhra Pradesh wherein application of full recommended fertilizer dose (20 N, 40 P2O5 and 40 kg/ha K2O) applied when the soil test values for NPK were low and half the recommended fertilizer dose (20 N, 20 P2O5 and 20 K2O kg/ha) is sufficient when P and K are medium in range. However application of P and K are not required when the soil test values are high
Proved and demonstrated that, Half Recommended Fertilizer Dose (10-20-20 N, P2O5, K2O kg/ha) along with Farm Yard Manure @ 4 t/ha is giving at par yields compared to full recommended dose of fertilizers which not only giving sustainable yields but also enhancing the soil health.
Found that Foliar spray after relieving dry spell with water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19) @ 0.5% + recommended dose of micronutrient (Zn SO4 @ 0.2 %) recorded higher groundnut pod yield (1267 kg/ha).
Treatment with Soil application of Consortia 1, consisting of Pseudomonas putida P7 + Bacillus subtilis B30recorded higher pod yield (1595 kg/ha). Irrespective of consortia, soil application showed better results over that of either seed treatment or seed treatment + soil application.
In enhancement of nutrient use efficiency and productivity using biofertilizer consortia in rainfed groundnut growing Alfisols experiment, treatment with Soil test based fertilizer application along with application of P consortia+ K mobilizer recorded higher pod yield (860 kg/ha).
The recommendation of soil test based fertilizer application in groundnut spread through all the Agricultural divisions of Anantapur district in an area of 70% area of groundnut in 8.50 lakh ha. The concept has reduced the cost of cultivation of kharif groundnut with a saving of about Rs.22.0 crores (about 70% of the area of 8.50 lakh ha during 2010-2015 ) on the cost of cultivation in Anantapur district. Also Government will be able to save precious foreign exchange as phosphatic fertilizers need to be imported.
Conducting awareness programmes to the farmers, extension personnel, NGOs and Agriculture department staff through trainings, radio talks, TV programmes on Soil Test Based Fertilizer application for P and K nutrients, Integrated Nutrient Management, balanced fertilization, maintenance of soil health etc.,
Correction of micronutrient deficiency when poor quality of irrigation water is being used When poor quality of irrigation water is used which was high in bicaronates and there by high Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) , the crop failure was noticed due to induced iron deficiency and for correction Ferrous sulphate @ 5 g/lt along with some lime juice to be sprayed for 2-3 times in 5-7 days interval. This was perfectly tried and saved the paddy crop in Anantapur district.
•By extending soil testing service to the farmers, more than 5000 farmers visited our Soil Science laboratory and their samples were analyzed on cost basis and generated an income of Rs.24,5 lakhs as revolving fund. Not only to this gave recommendation on soil health and nutrient management based on soil test values during 2016 to 2020.
Proved and demonstrated in large number of farmers fields about the foliar spray of KNO3 (13-0-45) @ 0.5% as Real Time Contingency measure to mitigate early and mid season drought in rainfed groundnut.
Received the University of Agricultural Sciences Gold Medal Award from President of India Smt. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil ji at 45th Convocation, GKVK, UAS, Bangalore on 6th Aug,2011.
Jury member for selection of best Science projects both at District level and at State level Science Fair, National Children’s Science Congress, 2014-15 to 2018-19 and other science related projects.
Given Invited guest lecture on “Influence of Agricultural Practices on Soil Health and Human Health” was given at the National seminar on “Land And Water For All And Forever: Spatial Challenges And Geospatial Technologies” at Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur.
Received Best Scientist award from “RYTHU BANDHU” Awards-2014.
Received “Fellowship award” from “Society for Scientific Development in Agriculture and Technology, Meerut” for the year 2014.
Received “Dr.P.G.Krishna memorial Gold medal” from Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University at 45th Convocation , ANGRAU at Tirupati on 4th April,2015.
Received “Distinguished Scientist award” from “Astha foundation and SSDAT at Pro.Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University,Hyderabad on 10th Dec,2016 for the year 2016.
Received “Vasantha Rao Naik team award” from “Indian Council of Agricultural Research at New Delhi on 16th July,2017.
Received International award “Distinguished Research Faculty” from Venous International faculty programme on 12.07.2018 at Chennai.
Received the best performing officer award from district administration, Ananthapuramu and Government of Andhra Pradesh on the eve of Reublic Day Celebrations (26-1-2018) and Independence Day celebrations (15.08.2019).
Received “Padmasri Dr.I.V.Subbarao - Rythu Nestham Award-2019 from Shri.M.Venkaiah Naidu, Vice-President of India and Dr.Tamili sai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana at Hyderabad on 22nd Sept,2019 for the work on dryland agriculture
Received “Bharata Ratna Smt.Indira Gandhi Gold Medal” award from GEPRA, New Delhi on 23rd November,2019
Received award from district administration on the eve of 73rd Independence Day” celebrations at Police parade grounds from Hon’ble Sankaranarayana, Minister, A.P Govt. and Sri Sathyanarayana, Collector, Anantapuram district on 15-08-2019.