Dr. Milkha Aulhak

Renowned Expert in Soil and Plant Nutrient Management, and Environmental Pollution, India

Dr. Milkha Aulakh received a B.Sc. in Agriculture (1972), a M.Sc. in Soil Science (1974) from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), India, and a Ph.D. in Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition (1983) from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. He was a Professor and Researcher at PAU from 1974 to 2010. His research led to the development of various reliable methodologies, establishment of critical limits of essential plant nutrients, and formulation and adoption of sustainable soil and nutrient management technologies that conserve natural resources, maximize agronomic efficiency of organic sources and fertilizers, optimize crop production, produce healthy food, provide economic returns for farmers, and minimize negative impacts on the environment. Major thrust areas of his work were balanced and integrated nutrient management (INM), conservation agriculture, carbon sequestration, sulphur deficiencies in subtropical soils, developing diagnostic tools, optimizing phosphorus fertilizer-use and its recovery, nutrient transformations in soils and their losses, greenhouse gas flux and leaching of nutrients. His path-breaking work on the role of rice plants in production and emission of methane demonstrated promising approaches to mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases from rice fields. From 2011 to 2015, he established and developed Banda University of Agriculture & Technology as its Founder Vice Chancellor. Outside India, he has worked in various international institutions such as IAEA Austria, FAO Italy, IRRI Philippines, and several universities and institutes in Canada, the USA, and Germany. He co-edited a book with Cindy Grant, published by Taylor and Francis, which addresses global INM challenges. He has authored over 220 publications, and delivered more than 130 presentations in 30 countries in five continents. He has received numerous awards and fellowships, including the TSI-FAI Plant Nutrient Sulphur Research Award, the IFA Norman Borlaug Award, IPNI Science Award, Canadian Commonwealth Fellowship, and U.S. Fulbright Fellowship. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Indian Society of Soil Science; Punjab Academy of Sciences, Hi-Tech Horticultural Society, and U.P. Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Now Retired, he volunteers his services in NGOs, and Farmers’ Organizations advocating INM to develop sustainable agriculture systems, conservation of natural resources, protection of environment, education for rural and deprived youth, etc., which foster understanding and harmony among communities.