Seventy-third Annual Convention of the Indian Society of Soil Science: A brief report

摘要

The 73rd Annual Convention of the Indian Society of Soil Science (ISSS) was held at the University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, during November 27-30, 2008. A brief report on the Convention is presented hereunder. The inaugural session was held on 27 November 2008 at the Kuvempu Auditorium of the University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore, GKVK Campus, Bangalore. On behalf of the University and Bangalore Chapter of ISSS, Dr. H. Shivanna, Director Research UAS, welcomed the dignitaries, delegates and guests. Dr. JVC. Katyal, President, ISSS, extended a warm welcome to the Chief Guest, Shri S.A. Ravindranath, Honorable minister of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka; Dr. P.G. Chengappa, Vice Chancellor, UAS Bangalore; and the other distinguished dignitaries and guests, including the 300 plus delegates present in the session. He highlighted the glorious past of the Society and the significant contributions of Soil Scientists in developing technologies for protectingthis valuable natural resource, increasing its productivity and quality of the agriculture produce through consistent research. Dr Katyal cautioned the researchers against pursuing stereo type research. He remarked that if research in Soil Science continues to be routine and merry-go-round kind then declining trends in agricultural growth emanating from degrading soil quality will be difficult to halt. Business as usual and efforts to solve new problems with old approaches and practices will further make farming unsustainable, less profitable and more cause of distress and disenchantment of farming community as a whole. Text of the address appears in this issue.