Education: B. Sc., SKUAST- Kashmir (2012), M. Sc., CCSHAU, Hisar (2014), PhD., CCSHAU, Hisar (2019)

Positions held: Soil Scientist, Regional Research Station, PAU, BallowalSaunkhri (2019-till date)

Field of Specialization: Soil Chemistry/Soil Fertility

Research Interest:

1. Nutrient Management and Soil Quality
2. Dryland Agriculture

Research Projects:

1. All India Coordinated Research Project on Dryland Agriculture Funded by CRIDA-ICAR, Hyderabad
2. National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture Funded by CRIDA-ICAR, Hyderabad
3. Assessment of Current Status of Makkowal Type Water Harvesting Structures in Kandi Region of Punjab Funded by Department of Soil and Water Conservation, Govt. of Punjab

Selected Research Publications:

1. Bhat, M. A.,Grewal, M. S., Wani, S. A., Singh, I., Dinesh, Grewal, K. S. and Arya, V S. (2018). Application of Geoinformatics for Groundwater Characterization. Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science, 66(3): 237–248.
2. Sahoo, J., Dinesh, Bhat, M. A., Anil, A. S. and Anurag (2019). Characterization and classification of soils of selected watershed area of Haryana, North-west India. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 89(11):1942–1947.
3. Singh, K., Gera, R., Sharma, R., Maithani, D., Chandra, D., Bhat, M. A., Kumar, R. and Bhatt, P. (2021). Mechanism and application of Sesbania root‑nodulating bacteria: an alternative for chemical fertilizers and sustainable development. Archives of Microbiology, 203: 1259–1270.
4. Khokhar, A., Sharma, V., Singh, MJ.,Yousuf, A., Sandhu, P. S., Kumar V. and Bhat, M. A. (2022). Effect of potassium and magnesium application on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of rainfed maize in the submontaneous region of Punjab, India. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 45 (14):2202–2212.
5. Khokhar, A., Bhat, M. A., Singh, MJ.,Yousuf, A., Sharma, V. andSandhu, P. S. (2022). Soil Properties, Nutrient Availability vis-à-vis Uptake and Productivity of Rainfed Maize-Wheat System in Response to Long-Term Tillage and N Management in Northwest India.Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis.53(22):2935-2954.

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

1. Awarded Junior Research Fellowship by Indian Council of Agricultural Research for pursuing M.Sc.
2. Awarded Scholarship by University Grants Commission, New Delhi for pursuing PhD.