Member Profile

Dr. V. K. Kharche is the Director of Research of Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola-444 104 Maharashtra. He has completed M.Sc. and Ph.D. (Agri) in Soil Science with specialization in Land Resource Management from Dr. PDKV, Akola and ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use planning, Nagpur under the UNDP sponsored project on Post Graduate Education and Research in Land Resource Management. He has qualified NET in Soil Science- Pedology and Soil Fertility. He was served for about ten years on various posts as Officer in charge of Micronutrient Research Project, AICRP-STCR project, Associate Professor and also had recognition to work as NATP Nodal officer and Planning officer in the university. He was then selected as Professor of Soil Science in Dr. PDKV, Akola and has been working on various posts in the university as Professor of Soil Science, Head of the Department, Associate Dean at College of Agriculture, Nagpur and Associate Dean at Post Graduate Institute, Akola. He has joined as Director of Research of Dr. PDKV, Akola since November, 2017. He has made significant contribution to agricultural research in Soil Science and developed a school of thought on nutrition of crops and cropping systems and soil quality sustenance under intensive agriculture in black soils and built a team of researchers which led to several recommendations beneficial for sustainable agricultural production in Maharashtra. Dr. V. K. Kharche has published 62 research papers in peer reviewed internationally abstracted journals of national and international repute, 140 conference/ seminar papers, 160 extension publications, 19 books/bulletins. He has published policy and strategy papers on facts and options for sustainable soil health management and balanced fertilization of crops and cropping systems for sustainable agricultural production in Vidarbha. He is working as President of the Akola chapter of the Indian Society of Soil Science and has organized state and national seminars/symposia on important topics of agricultural significance. He has worked as member of state level committee for optimum use of fertilizers in Maharashtra. He has been elected and nominated on several posts as councilor, secretary on the councils of important professional societies and has been working as editor of important journals of national repute. He has a long experience of post graduate teaching and guided 24 M. Sc and 7 Ph.D. students. He is the recipient of several awards at state, national and international level for his outstanding research and extension specifically in the areas of soil quality, integrated nutrient management, utilization of innovative techniques like GIS in assessment and monitoring of soil health and management of problem/degraded soils. He has been nominated as the Fellow of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, Pune.