Education: B.Sc. Agri. (Hons), PAU, Ludhiana (1999); M.Sc. Agronomy, PAU, Ludhiana (2001); Ph.D. Agronomy, PAU, Ludhiana (2016)

Positions held: Assistant Professor, KVK, Ferozepur (2005-2010), Assistant Agronomist, PAU, Ludhiana (2010-2018), Sr. Agronomist (Soybean)(2018-2021), Principal Agronomist (Soybean)  (2021 to till date)

Field of Specialization: Agronomy of Grain Legumes

Research Interests: (Maximum up to three areas of interest)

1. Crop Production
2. Weed management
3. Resource Conservation Technologies

Research Projects:

1. All India Coordinated Research Project on Soybean
2. All India Coordinated Research Project on Chickpea
3. All India Coordinated Research Project on MULLaRP
4. All India Coordinated Research Project on Pigeonpea

Projects accomplished

1. Accelerating the adoption of Resource Conservation Technologies (RCTs) for farm level impact on sustainability of rice wheat systems in Indo Gangetic Plains (during research fellowship)

Selected Publications (Five)

1. Bola SS, Virk HK, Khokhar A and Kaur N (2024). Foliar application of agrochemicals enhance growth, productivity, quality and biochemical traits of soybean. Journal of Plant Nutrition, DOI: 10.1080/01904167.2024.2376239 [NAAS rating= 8.10].

2. Virk H K, Singh G and Kaur G. 2024. Impact of Conservation Tillage on Growth, Symbiosis, Productivity, Quality, Profitability, and Soil Properties in Soybean: A Review. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2024.2377614[NAAS rating= 7.80].

3. Singh Z, Singh G, Aggarwal N, Virk H K and Gupta R K. 2024. Applications of biofertilizers and phosphorus influence nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency in chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis55(8): 1093-1104. DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2023.2295277 [NAAS rating= 7.80].

1. Singh, G., Brar, H. S., Virk H K, Khokhar, A., Kaur, C., Singh K. and Gupta, R. K. (2023): Effect of foliar-applied urea on symbiotic parameters, yield and monetary returns of irrigated chickpea, Journal of Plant Nutrition46 (8): 1668-1682. DOI: 10.1080/01904167.2022.2093745 [NAAS rating=8.28].

5. Singh Z, Singh G, Aggarwal N, Virk H K and Sharma P. 2022. Symbiotic efficiency vis-à-vis chickpea performance as affected by seed inoculation with Mesorhizobium, phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, and phosphorus application. Journal of Plant Nutrition45(2): 246-258. DOI: 10.1080/01904167.2021.1943435. [NAAS rating 7.13].

Awards/ Honours/ Distinct

• Awarded University Merit Certificate during B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.) by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
• Fellow of Indian Society of Pulses Research and Development (ISPRD).

Membership/s of Scientific and Professional Societies

• Life member of Indian Society of Agronomy
• Life member of Indian Society of Pulses Research and Development
• Life member of Indian Society of Weed Science
• Life member of Association of Agrometeorologists