Soil Productivity Enhancement: Prospects and Problems

摘要

I feel highly privileged to deliver the First Memorial Lecture of Dr. T.D. Biswas with whom I had memorable long association for almost more than five decades. I express my gratitude to the Executive Council of the Indian Society of Soil Science for giving me this honour. Dr. T.D. Biswas was born on November 3, 1920 in West Bengal and served in various capacities at IARI, New Delhi till his retirement as Head, Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry in 1980. He guided very successfully 20M.Sc. and 30 Ph.D. candidates, many of whom occupied high position in their professional career. Dr. T.D. Biswas was a reputed soil scientist, a teacher of par excellence and a committed administrator. The major area of his interest has been proper understanding of soil physical environment and its improvement for crop production. He created a school of soil physics around him and imparted specialized knowledge on varied aspects relating to the effect of manures on soil physical properties (Biswas et al. 1971), soil moisture-tension characteristics (Ali et al. 1966), effect of soil physical properties on crop productivity (Biswas 1982), soil structure etc. representing a wide range of soils of India. Dr. T.D. Biswas served the cause of the Indian Society of Soil Science as joint Secretary, Secretary, President and Chief Editor with exemplary dedication at a critical stage, and played a key role in nurturing and promoting the growth of the Society.