Considering the Agro-biodiversity as one of the richest national resource in country’s economy, strategic attempt for conforming unforeseen vagaries of climate and building block for developing varieties of plants and animal species with multi-utility dimensions, it is much needed option for developing a suitable knowledge base. It is estimated that about three quarters of genetics diversity of agricultural crops was lost in the preceding century. Out of 6300 animal species, 1350 are considered endangered and in extinction. Forest dwellers, fishermen, herders and farmers and maintaining the diversity by selecting plants and animals to meet the current environmental conditions and food requirements. Under these premises, National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai organized a National Conference on Agro-Biodiversity in Chennai from February 12-17, 2006. Researchers, academicians, policy planners, and administrators presented their view point on current status and future prospects of taking advantage of this resource. This vicarious knowledge resource will have high exploitation value for protecting and conserving the dwindling wealth, the country can boost of. The proceedings of this conference are brought out in three distinct volumes. Volume II deals with soil resources and microbial diversity which include soil biodiversity and sustainability parameters, rehabilitation options of salt lands, land resource planning, nutrient management, conservation technologies, management of biodiversity of microbes and weeds, biodiversity of Rhizobium and microflora and other related topics.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR A. Gopalam
Dr. A. Gopalam. Principal Scientist in Educational Psychology at National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad, is Ph.D. in Biochemistry. His initial footing as a biochemist in Central Tabacco Research Institute Rajahmundry and Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut gave him insights into the needs of agricultural development as related to agricultural education. In NAARM he is totally occupied in training function in the key focus area of Educational, Behavioral and Instructional Technology to a wide spectrum of teachers from State Agricultural University System.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR S Kannaiyan
Professor Dr. S. Kannaiyan is the former vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. He is a renowned world famous scientist in Agricultural Microbiology and Biotechnology. Prof. Kannaiyan did his B.Sc. (Agriculture) with first class and distinctions in Planat Pathology and Agronomy and M.Sc. (Agriculture) in Agricultural Microbilogy with first class and first rank from Annamalai University by securing Dr. M.P. Damodaran's and Dean's Awards. He also obtained his Ph.D. in 1976 in Agricultural Microbiology and his Ph.D. thesis was rated as the best and outstanding one for the year 1978. He was a FAO/UNDP Fellow and worked in Charles Kettering Research Laboratory, Yellow Spring, Ohio, USA. He was working as visiting scientist at University of California, Davis, USA in USDA Senior Scientific Panel Programme. He was a British Council Visiting Fellow in the University of Nottingham, UK and Visiting Scientist to the King's College, University of London, UK. Prof. Kannaiyan started his career in the Department of Agricultrue, Government of Tamil Nadu s a Research Assistant. Prof. Kannaiyan later joined as Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Microbiology at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore in 1980. Prof. Kannaiyan is the recipient of more than 20 awards. He is a Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi and the Indian Society of Biochemists and Biotechnologists. His field of specialization are Biotechnology, Alagal and Azolla Biotechnology, Biofertilizers, Nodulation in Cereals, Agricultural Education etc. He has organized many National and International Conferences. Prof. Kannaiyan has developed a strong research group and recently has got a NATP 'Team of excellence project on Biofertilizers for rice based cropping system was sanctioned in recognition of his outstanding contribution to rice Microbiology. He has published more than 400 research papers in reputed National and International Journals in the areas of Cyanobacteria, Azolla Biofertilizer, stem nodulating Sesbania rostrata and Rice Pathology. He has published 38 scientific books pertaining to Biofertilizers and Agriculture and written 14 books in Tamil on technology transfer.
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