National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Dr. Ajay Kumar Bhardwaj
FELLOW, ELECTED 2025

Born in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India on 18 February 1975. Educated at DAV Public School, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 1985-90;GGDSD College,Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh, 1990-92; Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 1993-97; HKPV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 1997-99;CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, 1999-2003; The Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Dagan, Israel, 2003-06; North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA, 2006-08; DOE-Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Centre, Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, MI, USA, 2008-11; B.Sc. (Ag.) 1997; M.Sc. 1999; Ph.D. 2003.

Principal Scientist, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 2017 to date.

Senior Scientist, 2011-13, Regional Research Station, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; Senior Scientist, 2013-2017, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India; Principal Scientist, 2017-24, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, India; UNESCO-TWAS Associate Scientist, The Research Institute of Theoretical & Applied Physical Chemistry, La Plata, Argentina, 2015-17; INSA Visiting Scientist, Center for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2015; Adjunct Professor/PG Teacher, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India, 2013 to date; Adjunct Professor/PG Teacher, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, India, 2018 to date; Adjunct Professor, 2019 to date, Department of Agriculture, DAV University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India.

Awards/Honours: Indo-Israel Scientific and Academic Exchange Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, 2003; Mashav Fellowship, Agricultural Research Organization, Israel, 2004; Honorable Paper Award, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), 2008; Distinguished Talk Award, 20th World Congress of Soil Science,Jeju, Korea, 2014; Indian National Science Academy (INSA)Visiting Scientist Fellowship, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 2014-15; Editorial Board Member, Indian Journal of Soil Salinity and Water Quality, Karnal, India, 2014-21; UNESCO-TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences) Associateship, Research Institute of Theoretical & Applied Physical Chemistry, La Plata, Argentina, 2015-17; Associate Editor, Ecological Processes (Springer-Nature), 2016 to date; Editorial Board Member, Frontiers in Plant Science, and Frontiers in Soil Science, 2020 to date; Associate Editor, Scientific Reports (Nature), 2022 to date; Lal Bahadur Shastri Outstanding Young Scientist Award, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Government of India, New Delhi, 2015; Best Salinity Photo Award, FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of UN), Global Symposium on Salt Affected Soils, Rome, Italy, 2021; Recognition Award,Society for Conservation of Nature (SCON) and Sustainable India Trust (SIT), 2022-23; Dr. S.N. Saxena Memorial Award Lecture, Indian Society of Soil Science (ISSS), 2024; Dr. S. Nagarajan Memorial Award, Society for Advancement of Wheat and Barley Research (SAWBAR), Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR), Karnal, 2024; Dr. J.S.P. Yadav Memorial Award for Excellence in Soil Science, ISSS, New Delhi, 2024.

Research Areas: Biogeochemistry, Salinity & abiotic stress management, Sustainable nutrient management

Address: Principal Scientist, Room 209, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Kachhwa Road, Karnal 132001, Haryana; E2, CSSRI, Kachhwa Road, Karnal 132001, Haryana; [Tel: Off. (0184) 2209359; Cell: 9467894326; Email: ajaykbhardwaj@gmail.com; ak.bhardwaj@icar.gov.in]