Dr. Vivek Sharma is a Soil Chemist in the Department of Soil Science at Punjab Agricultural

University, where he serves as the In-charge of All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Micro and Secondary Nutrients & Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plant (Ludhiana centre). Dr. Sharma is also dealing with the Soil Testing of Farmers Samples for secondary and micronutrients. His research areas include nutrient dynamics in soil-crop systems, micronutrients behaviour in soil and plant system, biofortification of crops with micronutrients and nutrients cycling and transformations. Dr. Sharma has successfully

managed five grant projects as a principal investigator and has been involved in seven externally funded research studies exploring various facets of soil science. He has strong publication record of 105 research articles, five book chapters, two proceeding papers and ten extension articles. He has also contributed to the development and testing of six innovative technologies recommended for state farmers by PAU. In addition to his research, Dr. Sharma is dedicated to teaching and has mentored two Ph.D. and five M.Sc. students, actively engaging in both undergraduate and graduate courses.

Selected Research Publications :

1. Sharma Vivek, Vikash Kharb, Manmeet Kaur, Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Anu Kalia, and Prabhjot Singh (2025) Amelioration of Iron Deficiency in Direct Seeded Aerobic Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) with Iron Seed Priming in Textually Different Soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 56: 724-735. (NAAS-7.30)
2. Sharma, Vivek, Kharb, V., Verma, V. et al.  (2024) Comparative potential of different Fe sources for seed priming to enhance yield and iron content in direct seeded aerobic rice. Cereal Research Communications. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-024-00503-9. (NAAS 7.60)
3. Sharma Vivek, Janpriya Kaur, Dhaliwal SS, Manmeet Kaur, Behera SK, Vibha Verma · Prabhjot Singh (2024) Screening the Potential of Different Brassica Genotypes for Phytoremediation of Nickel (Ni) Spiked Soil. Water Air Soil and Pollution 235:432. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-024-07256-5 (NAAS 8.90)
4. Gitanjli Rathore, Vivek Sharma, Manpreet Kaur, and B. B. Vashisht (2025) Assessment of soil quality in texturally different and salt-affected soils of trans-Gangetic plains of India. Environmental Earth Sciences 84:1-17. (NAAS-8.80)
5. Janpriya Kaur, Vivek Sharma, Salwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Sanjib Kumar Behera, Vibha Verma and Prabhjot Singh (2024) Comparative assessment of Brassica cultivars for genotypic variability in phytoremediation of soil exposed to lead (Pb) contamination, International Journal of Phytoremediation 27(2):1-12. (NAAS-9.40)

Ongoing  RProjects :

1. ICAR, All India Coordinated Research Project of Micro and Secondary Nutrients & Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants (PI, Ludhiana centre)
2. Testing Bio-efficacy of NAYAZINCTM  (Zinc polyphosphate) as zinc fertiliser for soil application in low-land transplanted paddy) cultivation funded by Rallis India Private Limited (PI).
3. Contractual Research Network Project entitled “Evaluation of Efficacy of Sulphur, Magnesium, and Micronutrients Containing Complex Fertilizers for Maximizing Yield through Balanced Nutrition of Important Crops grown in India”,  funded by M/s SML Limited (PI, Ludhiana centre).
4. Zn and Fe biofortified aromatic rice: potential contribution for dietary mineral and human health- research project funded by NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development), Chandigarh, 2022-2025(Co-PI)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

1. Received best centre award (as Team Incharge) of All India Coordinated Operational Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRP-ORP) during biennial meeting of AICRPDA at College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Indore in 2014.
2. Received best centre award (Team Award) of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRP-Main) at University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore in 2019
3. Received best centre award (as Team Incharge) of All India Coordinated Research Project on Micro and Secondary Nutrients & Pollutants Elements in Soils and Plants biennial workshop at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar in 2023