About the Authors:
 
Dr. Ranjan Laik currently serves as Professor-cum-Chief Scientist in the Department of Soil Science at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar. His contributions to the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia
(CSISA) with IRRI and CIMMYT significantly advanced conservation agriculture practices in the Eastern Indo- Gangetic Plains. He has authored over 80 research papers, books, and chapters, and has led major national projects including the AICRP on Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements. His collaborative research with leading global institutions such as Cornell University, IRRI, and CIMMYT has strengthened the scientific foundation of soil health management in South Asia. As a teacher and mentor, he has guided numerous postgraduate and doctoral scholars and is widely respected for integrating classical soil science with modern analytical approaches. His research interests span soil health and fertility management, carbon dynamics,
conservation agriculture, micronutrient management, and sustainable cropping systems. 
 
Dr. Sumit Sow is currently working as a Senior Research Fellow, Soil Health Project (funded by Cornell University, USA) at Department of Soil Science, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India. He has completed graduation from Visva-Bharati, West Bengal and
M.Sc. in Agronomy with an ICAR-JRF from Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bihar. He has completed Ph.D. in Agronomy with an ICAR-SRF from RPCAU, Pusa,
Bihar. He has qualified ICAR-NET and UGC-NET. He has authored two textbooks and ten edited books. Additionally, he has published 22 research articles, 8 review articles, 35 popular articles, and 35 book chapters. His research interests
include carbon management, precision nutrient management, soil health, integrated weed management, and sugarcane- and cereal-based cropping systems.