Dr. Biraj Bandhu Basak

Dr. Biraj Bandhu Basak
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Discipline:Soil Chemistry/ Fertility/Microbiology Designation: Scientist Since April, 2010
Email: Biraj.Basak@icar.gov.in Mobile: +91-9099734660

Academic Qualifications

Degree Institute/ University Year of completion Subject(s) with major field
BSc Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalya (UBKV) Cooch Behar (W.B) 2005 Agriculture
MSc Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 2007 Agriculture
PhD Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 2010 Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry

 

Employment Record & Experience (Starting from the present position)

Designation Organization Institution & place of posting Period(From-to) Duration(years, months)
Scientist ICAR, New Delhi ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Anand, Gujarat, India 24.04.2010 to till date

Current responsibilities:

  • Development of value added compost by using crop residue and low grade minerals suitable for organic cultivation system particularly medicinal and aromatic plants
  • Associated with development of organic cultivation module of economically important medicinal plants
  • Working on evaluation of contamination level in herbal raw drudge and medicinal and aromatic plant particularly heavy metal load

Recent 3 major contributions:

  • Associate with development of new technology to prepare enrich compost using crop residues, low-grade rock phosphate and waste mica which could serve as a good source of nutrient in organic cultivation system particularly for medicinal and aromatic plants
  • Develop a technology on bio-intervention of waste mica by potassium solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus mucilaginosus) to solubilize insoluble K into plant available pool and used as an efficient alternative source of K-fertilizer for crop production and maintaining soil potassium. This is the first report from India using waste mica inoculated with KSB as source of K
  • Micronutrient management for better yield and quality of economically important medicinal plants particularly Isabgol and Senna

Recent awards and recognitions:

  • Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Physical Science during M.Sc. programme (2005-2007)
  • Senior Research Fellowship by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) 2007 – 2010
  • Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Science, 2009
  • Yash Pal Kalra Annual Convention Travel Award- 2008 by Indian Society of Soil Science (ISSS), Delhi Chapter

Current collaborative activities:

  • Associated with development of programme on cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in marginal and degraded land for improving livelihood security of local people

Recent most significant publications:

  • Basak BB, Biswas DR (2009) Influence of potassium solubilising microorganism (Bacillus mucilaginosus) and waste mica on potassium uptake dynamics by Sudan grass (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) grown under two Alfisols. Plant and Soil 317:235–255
  • Biswas DR, Narayanasamy G, Datta SC, Singh G, Mamata B, Maiti D, Mishra A, Basak BB (2009) Changes in nutrient status during preparation of enriched organomineral fertilizers using rice straw, low-grade rock phosphate, waste mica, and phosphate solubilising microorganism. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 40:2285–2307
  • Basak BB, Biswas DR (2010) Co-inoculation of potassium solubilizing and nitrogen fixing bacteria on solubilization of waste mica and their effect on growth promotion and nutrient acquisition by a forage crop. Biology and Fertility of Soils 46:641-648
  • Basak BB, Sharmistha Pal, Datta SC (2012). Use of modified clays for retention and supply of water and nutrients. Current Science 102 (9): 1272-1278
  • Basak BB, Biswas DR, Rattan RK (2012) Comparative Effectiveness of Value-added Manures on Crop Productivity, Soil Mineral Nitrogen and Soil Carbon Pools under Maize-Wheat Cropping System in an Inceptisol. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 60(4): 288-298
  • Basak BB, Biswas DR and Sharmistha Pal (2013) Soil biochemical properties and quality as affected by organic manures and mineral fertilizers in soil under maize-wheat rotation. Agrochimica 57(1): 49-66
  • Biswas DR and Basak BB (2013) Potassium solubilizing Microorganisms: Their Mechanisms, Potentialities and Challenges as Potassium Biofertilizer. Indian Journal of Fertilizer 9(12): 102-116
  • Basak BB, Biswas DR (2014) Carbon and nitrogen mineralization in soil amended with value-added manures and fertilizers under varying temperature and soil moisture regimes. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 62(1): 18-28.

Other professional activities:

  • Life member and Executive Body member of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Association of India (MAPAI), ICAR-DMAPR, Anand
  • Member of Indian Society of Soil Science (ISSS), NAAS Complex, New Delhi
  • Reviewer of national and international journals related soil science and plant nutrition
  • Chairperson, institute library committee