Dr Sudhir Thaman works as a Scientist and PI of AICRP on “Plastic Engineering in Agriculture Structures and Environment Management” at the Department of Soil and Water Engineering, PAU, Ludhiana. He is Co-PI of an NHM-funded project (Rs. 14.96 crores) entitled “Centre of Excellence for utilization of brackish water for fruit and vegetable production in south-western Punjab.” He has been involved in various research, teaching and extension activities. Before joining this Department, he worked as an Assistant Agricultural Engineer at PAU Regional Station Bathinda. At PAU Regional Station Bathinda, he worked in the AICRP on “Water Management” scheme. He worked on different strategies for efficient management of on-farm water resources. He delivered many lectures on micro-irrigation and water management at field days. Additionally, he has worked in AICRP on “Management of salt-affected soil and use of saline water in agriculture.” He was involved in collecting information on soil salinity and water-logged areas in Bathinda and Shri Muktsar Sahib Districts. At Ratta Khera, he demonstrated land shaping intervention for managing shallow water tables and reclaiming salt-affected soil. He has published 36 research and 10 popular articles, presented 36 abstracts in various symposiums and conferences. He has 14 recommendations on using poor-quality water for irrigation in forestry, field, and horticulture crops.

Professional Accomplishments

1. PI, AICRP on Plastic Engineering in Agriculture Structures and Environment Management
2. Co-PI, NHM-funded project entitled “Centre of Excellence for utilization of brackish water for fruit and vegetable production in south-western Punjab”
3. Co-PI, AICRP on Irrigation Water Management
4. Co-PI, AICRP on Management of salt-affected soil and use of saline water in agriculture

Research Projects:

1. All India Coordinated Research Project on “Plastic Engineering in Agriculture Structures and Environment Management
2. Co-PI, NHM-funded project entitled “Centre of Excellence for utilization of brackish water for fruit and vegetable production in south-western Punjab.”

Research Publications:

1. Goyal P, Sharda R, Thaman S and Saini M (2025) A custom deep learning model for abiotic stress classification in maize in uncontrolled environments. Comp and Elec in Agri https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2024.109865

2. Garg N, Choudhary O P, Thaman S, Sharma V, Singh H, Vashistha M, Sekhon K S, Sharda R and Dhaliwal M S 2022. Effects of irrigation water quality and NPK-fertigation levels on plant growth, yield and tuber size of potatoes in a sandy loam alluvial soil of semi-arid region of Indian Punjab. Agric Water Mgt 266, 107604.

 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107604

3. Sekhon K S, Kaur At, Thaman S, Sidhu AS, Garg N, Choudhary OP, Buttar GS and Chawla N (2020). Irrigation water quality and mulching effects on tuber yield and soil properties in potato (Solanum tuberosum ) under semi-arid conditions of Indian Punjab. Field Crops Res 247, 107544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2019.06.001

4. Kukal S S, Yadav S, Humphreys E, Kaur A, Singh Y, Thaman S, Singh B, and Timsina J (2010) Factors affecting irrigation water savings in raised beds in rice and wheat. Field Crops Res 118:43-50.
   
   
   
5. Singh Y, Humphreys E, Kukal SS, Singh B, Kaur A, Thaman S, Prashar A, Yadav S, Timsina J, Dhillon S S, Kaur N, Smith D J, and Gajri P R (2009) Crop performance in permanent raised bed rice-wheat cropping system in Punjab, India. Field Crops Res 110: 1-20.