Palo Francis Loke | Soil Organic | Best Researcher Award

Dr Palo Francis Loke |  Soil Organic |  Best Researcher Award

Lecturer/Researcher at  University of the Free State, South Africa

Dr. PF Loke is a distinguished Soil Scientist specializing in soil chemistry, fertility, and plant nutrition. He earned his PhD in Soil Science (Chemistry) from the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2018, following his MSc Agric. in Soil Science (Fertility and Plant Nutrition) in 2012, and a BSc Agric. Hons in Soil Science in 2010 from the same institution. He also holds a BSc Agric. from the National University of Lesotho (NUL), completed in 2005. Dr. Loke has a robust teaching portfolio, presenting courses such as SOIL 4814 and SOIL 2674. His research interests focus on carbon and nutrient cycling, soil organic matter storage, and plant nutrition. As a member of the Soil Science Society of South Africa (SSSSA), Dr. Loke actively contributes to the advancement of soil science. His extensive publication record includes influential journal articles on soil organic matter storage, aggregate dynamics, and the effects of long-term agricultural practices on soil health in semi-arid regions. Dr. Loke’s work has been published in reputable journals like Agriculture, South African Journal of Plant and Soil, Soil Research, Geoderma, and the Soil Science Society of America Journal.

Profile:

Qualifications:

  • PhD in Soil Science (Chemistry), University of the Free State (UFS), 2013-2018
  • MSc Agric. in Soil Science (Fertility and Plant Nutrition), UFS, 2010-2012
  • BSc Agric. Hons in Soil Science, UFS, 2009-2010
  • BSc Agric., National University of Lesotho (NUL), 2001-2005

📈 Citation Index:

  • Total Citations: 162 (124 since 2019)
  • h-index: 8 (since 2019)
  • i10-index: 5 (since 2019)

Research Focus: Soil Organic

Dr. P.F. Loke’s research primarily revolves around soil organic matter dynamics, with a strong emphasis on carbon and nutrient cycling, soil organic matter storage, and plant nutrition. His work involves investigating how different agricultural practices influence soil health and fertility, particularly in semi-arid regions.

📄 Publication:
  • Soil Organic Matter Storage in Irrigated Tsitsikamma Dairy Farms with Minimum Tilled Pasture Mixtures: Case Studies
    Agriculture 12(6):858, 2022.
    Contributors: P.F. Loke, E. Kotzé, C. Du Preez
    DOI: 10.3390/agriculture12060858
    Source: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
  • Changes in Soil Organic Matter Indices Following 32 Years of Different Wheat Production Management Practices in Semi-Arid South Africa
    Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 94:97-109, 2012.
    Contributors: P.F. Loke, E. Kotzé, C.C. Du Preez
    DOI: 10.1007/s10705-012-9529-7
  • Land Use Change Affecting Soil Humic Substances in Three Semi-Arid Agro-Ecosystems in South Africa
    Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 216:194-202, 2016.
    Contributors: E. Kotzé, P.F. Loke, M.C. Akhosi-Setaka, C.C. Du Preez
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2015.10.007
  • Impact of Long-Term Wheat Production Management Practices on Soil Acidity, Phosphorus, and Some Micronutrients in a Semi-Arid Plinthosol
    Soil Research 51(5):415-426, 2013.
    Contributors: P.F. Loke, E. Kotzé, C.C. Du Preez
    DOI: 10.1071/SR12359
  • Long-Term Effects of Wheat Production Management Practices on Exchangeable Base Cations and Cation Exchange Capacity of a Plinthosol in Semi-Arid South Africa
    Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 45(8):1083-1105, 2014.
    Contributors: P.F. Loke, E. Kotzé, C.C. Du Preez
    DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2013.867060
  • Long-Term Effects of Wheat Production Management Practices on Some Carbon Fractions of a Semiarid Plinthustalfs
    Soil Research 56(6):601-614, 2018.
    Contributors: P.F. Loke, E. Kotzé, C.C. Du Preez, L. Twigge
    DOI: 10.1071/SR18050
  • Long-Term Wheat Production Management Effects on Soil Fertility Indicators in the Semi-Arid Eastern Free State, South Africa
    South African Journal of Plant and Soil 38(2):93-106, 2021.
    Contributors: P.F. Loke, J.J. Schimper, E. Kotzé, C.C. Du Preez
    DOI: 10.1080/02571862.2020.1858512
  • Cross-Rangeland Comparisons on Soil Carbon Dynamics in the Pedoderm of Semi-Arid and Arid South African Commercial Farms
    Geoderma 381:114689, 2021.
    Contributors: P.F. Loke, E. Kotzé, C.C. Du Preez, L. Twigge
    DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2020.114689
  • Dynamics of Soil Carbon Concentrations and Quality Induced by Agricultural Land Use in Central South Africa
    Soil Science Society of America Journal 83(2):366-379, 2019.
    Contributors: P.F. Loke, E. Kotzé, C.C. Du Preez, L. Twigge
    DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2018.11.0423
  • Response of Soil Organic Matter Indices and Fractions After 37 Years of Wheat Production Management Practices in Semi-Arid South Africa
    South African Journal of Plant and Soil 37(2):136-143, 2020.
    Contributors: T. Motema, E. Kotzé, P.F. Loke, C.C. Du Preez
    DOI: 10.1080/02571862.2019.1698777

 

Priya Lal Chandra Paul | Conservation agriculture | Excellence in Research

Dr Priya Lal Chandra Paul |  Conservation agriculture | Excellence in Research

Senior Scientific Officer at  Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh

Dr. Priya Lal Chandra Paul is a Senior Scientific Officer at the Irrigation and Water Management Division of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in Gazipur, Bangladesh. With a profound interest in soil water and salinity dynamics, waterlogging mitigation techniques, and conservation agriculture, Dr. Paul has made significant contributions to agricultural science and water management.

 

Profile:

Education:

🎓 PhD in Agricultural Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia (2020).🎓 M.S. in Irrigation and Water Management, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh (2006).🎓 B. Sc. Agricultural Engineering, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh (2004)

Professional Experience:

Senior Scientific Officer, BRRI (Dec 2014 – Present). Scientific Officer, BRRI (Aug 2009 – Dec 2014). Assistant General Manager, Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (REB) (Nov 2008 – Aug 2009). Assistant Manager, Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) (Jul 2008 – Nov 2008). Agricultural Engineer, Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Ministry of Agriculture (Jul 2006 – Jul 2008)

Professional Development:

Dr. Paul has continually enhanced his expertise through various training programs and courses, including GIS and Remote Sensing in Smart Agriculture, Adaptive Delta Management, and Integrated Water Resource Management. 🌍

Awards and Fellowships:

🏆 ACIAR John Allwright Fellowship, Australia
🏆 TWAS-USM Fellowship, Malaysia
🏆 VLIR-UOS Training Scholarship, Belgium
🏆 National Integrity Strategy Award 2023, BRRI

Dr. Paul’s dedication to agricultural research and development is evident through his extensive involvement in projects aimed at mitigating climate risks and enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems in Bangladesh. 🌱

Conservation Agriculture Research Focus 🌾

Dr. Priya Lal Chandra Paul is deeply engaged in research focused on conservation agriculture, emphasizing sustainable practices that enhance soil health, improve water use efficiency, and increase crop yields while reducing environmental impact. His key research areas in this domain include:

  1. Soil Water Conservation:
    • Investigating techniques to conserve soil moisture, crucial for sustaining crop growth in water-scarce regions.
    • Implementing mulching practices and other soil amendments to maintain optimal soil moisture levels.
  2. Tillage Practices:
    • Exploring minimum tillage and no-till farming methods to reduce soil erosion and degradation.
    • Assessing the impact of different tillage practices on soil structure, water infiltration, and root growth.
  3. Crop Establishment in Saline-Wet Soils:
    • Developing strategies for successful crop establishment in challenging saline and waterlogged soils, typical in coastal regions.
    • Evaluating salt-tolerant crop varieties and appropriate planting techniques to mitigate salinity effects.
  4. Conjunctive Use of Saline and Freshwater:
    • Studying the combined use of saline and freshwater resources to optimize irrigation practices.
    • Implementing water management strategies that balance the use of available water resources to maintain soil health and crop productivity.
  5. Water Saving Techniques:
    • Promoting the use of efficient irrigation systems, such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, to minimize water wastage.
    • Investigating alternate wetting and drying (AWD) techniques in rice cultivation to save water and improve water use efficiency.
  6. Conservation Agriculture in Coastal Agriculture and Hydrology:
    • Addressing the unique challenges faced by coastal agricultural systems, including salinity, waterlogging, and soil degradation.
    • Developing and promoting integrated water and soil management practices to enhance the resilience of coastal farming systems.

Dr. Paul’s research is instrumental in developing sustainable agricultural practices that ensure long-term productivity and environmental conservation, particularly in regions facing climatic and hydrological challenges. His work aims to provide practical solutions for farmers to adapt to changing conditions and maintain agricultural sustainability. 🌱

Citation Metrics 📊

  • Total Citations: 339 (since 2019: 312)
  • h-index: 11 (since 2019: 10)
  • i10-index: 12 (since 2019: 11)

Publication Top Notes:

  • Straw mulch and irrigation affect solute potential and sunflower yield in a heavy textured soil in the Ganges Delta
    • Agricultural Water Management 239, 106211 (2020)
    • Citations: 45
  • Banding of fertilizer improves phosphorus acquisition and yield of zero tillage maize by concentrating phosphorus in surface soil
    • Sustainability 10 (9), 3234 (2018)
    • Citations: 35
  • Variation in the yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) due to differing tillage systems is associated with variation in solute potential of the soil solution in a salt-affected soil
    • Soil and Tillage Research 197, 104489 (2020)
    • Citations: 34
  • Impact of rice straw mulch on soil physical properties, sunflower root distribution and yield in a salt-affected clay-textured soil
    • Agriculture 11 (3), 264 (2021)
    • Citations: 29
  • Opportunities for cropping system intensification in the coastal zone of Bangladesh
    • Conference proceedings, Revitalizing the Ganges Coastal Zone: Turning Challenges into Opportunities (2015)
    • Citations: 28*
  • Optimum sowing window for boro cultivation in the coastal zone of Bangladesh
    • Conference proceedings, Revitalizing the Ganges Coastal Zone: Turning Challenges into Opportunities (2015)
    • Citations: 22*
  • Refinement of alternate wetting and drying irrigation method for rice cultivation
    • Bangladesh Rice Journal 17 (1-2), 33-37 (2013)
    • Citations: 22
  • Opportunities and risks with early sowing of sunflower in a salt-affected coastal region of the Ganges Delta
    • Agronomy for Sustainable Development 41 (3), 39 (2021)
    • Citations: 18
  • Water productivity improvement using water saving technologies in Boro rice cultivation
    • Bangladesh Rice Journal 20 (1), 17-22 (2016)
    • Citations: 17
  • Triple rice in a year: Is it a feasible option for the low salinity areas of the coastal zone of Bangladesh
    • Conference proceedings, Revitalizing the Ganges Coastal Zone: Turning Challenges into Opportunities (2015)
    • Citations: 14*
  • Short-Term Waterlogging Depresses Early Growth of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) on Saline Soils with a Shallow Water Table in the Coastal Zone of the Ganges Delta
    • Soil Systems 5 (4), 68 (2021)
    • Citations: 12
  • Selection of Profitable Rice Based Cropping System Under Prevailing Water Environment in Satkhira District of Bangladesh
    • Academia Journal of Agricultural Research 4 (9), 581-588 (2016)
    • Citations: 11*
  • Early transplanting of rainfed rice minimizes irrigation demand by utilizing rainfall
    • Environmental Systems Research 10, 1-11 (2021)
    • Citations: 9
  • Impacts of different tillage systems on the yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in a salt-affected clayey soil of the Ganges Delta
    • Soil Tillage Res 197, 104489 (2020)
    • Citations: 8
  • Rice-rice-rabi cropping systems for increasing the productivity of low salinity regions of the coastal zone of Bangladesh
    • Conference proceedings, Revitalizing the Ganges Coastal Zone: Turning Challenges into Opportunities (2015)
    • Citations: 8*
  • Agronomic practices increase sunflower yield in the rabi (dry) season in clay-textured, salt-affected soils of the coastal region of Bangladesh
    • Murdoch University (2020)
    • Citations: 4
  • Water productivity evaluation for rice based cropping system in Gazipur District of Bangladesh
    • Eco-friendly Agricultural Journal 6 (12), 279-284 (2013)
    • Citations: 4