Ajmer Singh Brar, Principal Agronomist and Incharge at Punjab Agricultural University’s Centre for Water Technology and Management, has significantly advanced sustainable agriculture in Punjab’s Indo-Gangetic Plains. He joined PAU, as Agronomist at RRS, Gurdaspur in the year 1998 after completing B.Sc. from M. D. S. University, Ajmer in the year 1992 and M.Sc. and Ph.D. (Agronomy) from PAU, Ludhiana in the year 1996 and 2008, respectively. He has published 105 research papers, boasting H-index of 21, i10 of 36 and 1399 citations. He guided nine M.Sc. and four Ph.D. students, with one receiving the Jawahar Lal Nehru Best Thesis Award (2018). His research focuses on water-saving technologies, developing 33 PAU-recommended practices, including IoT-enabled irrigation and AI-driven sub-surface drip systems, saving 23.3% water in rice-wheat systems. His extension work involves disseminating technologies through field days, on-farm trials, and training lectures, alongside policy contributions to Punjab’s Irrigation Plans and Water Resources Acts. His global collaborations with institutions like the University of Cambridge and World Bank enhance PAU’s research profile.

Professional Accomplishments

Research Projects ongoing

1. North Indian Centre for Water Technology Research in Agriculture, Funded by DST, New Delhi, as PI
2. Precision irrigation in major cropping systems of Punjab using artificial intelligence and sub surface drip system, as PI
3. Estimation of Groundwater Unit Draft and Water Budgeting in Different Agro-climatic Regions of Punjab using Internet of Things and Satellite Remote Sensing, as PI
4. Managing Drought and Heat Stress in Citrus Orchards: A Focus on Irrigation Management and Straw Mulching in South-Western Punjab, Funded by NDMF, as PI
5. Futuristic farming: Demonstrating cutting edge agri-techniques for resource conservation, as PI
6. Drought and Heat Stress Mitigation in Cotton: On-Farm Assessment and Implementation of Irrigation and Crop Management Technologies in South-western Punjab, Funded by NDMF, as PI

Research projects completed

1. NAHEP-CAAST Project on Natural Resources Management for Sustainable Agriculture, Funded by ICAR AS Co-PI
2.  Transforming India’s Green Revolution by Research and Empowerment for Sustainable Food Supplies Funded by University of Cambridge, as Co-PI
3. Preparation of District and State Irrigation Plans for the State of Punjab, Funded by Govt. of Punjab, as Co-PI

Research Publications:

• Kaur, M, Dheri, G S, Brar A S and Kalia, A (2024) Methane and nitrous oxide emissions in rice fields influenced with duration of cultivars and irrigation regimes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 35: 108923. (NAAS Rating:12)

• Brar, A S, Pemula P, Sahoo P, Singh S and Pathania S S (2024) Interactive Effect of Straw Mulch and Irrigation Regimes on Yield, Water Productivity, and Soil Water Balance of Spring Maize (Zea mays) Under Semi-arid Climate. Agricultural Research, https://doi. org/10.1007/s40003-024-00821-8. (NAAS Rating:7.4)

• Brar A S, Kaur K, Sindhu VK, Tsolakis N and Srai J S (2022) Sustainable Water Use through Multiple Cropping Systems and Precision Irrigation. Journal of Cleaner Production. 333: 130117. (NAAS Rating:15.7)

• Singh K, Mishra S K, Singh M, Singh K and Brar A S (2022) Water footprint assessment of surface and subsurface drip fertigated cotton-wheat cropping system-A case study under semi-arid environments of Indian Punjab. Journal of Cleaner Production. 365: 132735    (NAAS Rating: 15.7)

• Kaur N, Vashist K K, and Brar A S (2021) Energy and productivity analysis of maize-based crop sequences compared to rice-wheat system under different moisture regimes. Energy 216: pp119286. (NAAS Rating:15)

Awards and Recognitions:

1. University Appreciation Award (2018)
2. Dr Harcharan Singh Sandhu Award (2019-20)
3. Award of Plaque and Merit (2020-21)
4. Prof. Manjeet S. Chinnan Distinguished Professor Chair (2021-22)