Senior Scientist at NIRCA, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, India
Dr. Namita Das Saha is a Senior Scientist at ICAR-CTRI, RS-Dinhata, West Bengal, India. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. Her research focuses on the impact of anthropogenic stressors like agricultural management practices, elevated CO2, temperatures, and ozone (O3) pollution on soil ecosystems, particularly soil biota and nutrient mineralization. She has contributed extensively to areas like microplastic contamination in soil, microbial mitigation techniques for greenhouse gas emissions, and biochar-based soil reclamation. She has also worked on enhancing the production and quality of crops like chili and turmeric using microbial interventions.
Publication Profile :
Scopus
Education 🎓
Dr. Das Saha completed her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi (2011), with a focus on climate change variables affecting plant pathogenesis. She earned her M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences from ICAR-IARI in 2007 and a B.Sc. (Ag.) Hons. from Uttar Banga Krishi Viswa Vidyalaya, West Bengal, in 2004.
Professional Experience💼
Dr. Saha has a diverse career in academia and research. She currently serves as a Senior Scientist at ICAR-CTRI, Dinhata, West Bengal. Prior to this, she held various positions at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, including Senior Scientist and Scientist. She has also contributed to teaching at Central University of South Bihar and the Central University of Rajasthan.
Research Interests 🔬
Dr. Saha’s research interests span soil microbiology, biogeochemistry, climate change, and environmental science. She focuses on understanding how agricultural practices, such as organic farming, interact with elevated CO2 and ozone levels to affect soil microbial communities, enzymes involved in nutrient cycling, and soil health. Her work also delves into mitigating GHG emissions from agricultural soils and understanding the effects of microplastic contamination in farm soils.
Awards 🏅
Dr. Saha has received several prestigious awards throughout her career, recognizing her contributions to environmental science and agriculture. These include awards for her work on soil microbial diversity and contributions to sustainable agriculture practices under climate change.
Publications Top Notes 📚
- Das Saha, Namita et al. (2024). Vis-NIR spectroscopy based rapid and non-destructive method to quantitate microplastics: An emerging contaminant in farm soil. Science of the Total Environment Link. (Impact Factor: 9.8)
- Bhattacharyya, Ranjan et al. (2023). Elevated CO2 alters aggregate-carbon and microbial community but does not affect total soil organic C in the semi-arid tropics. Applied Soil Ecology Link. (Impact Factor: 5.31)
- Dutta, A. et al. (2023). Conventional and Zero Tillage with Residue Management in Rice–Wheat System in the Indo-Gangetic Plains: Impact on Thermal Sensitivity of Soil Organic Carbon Respiration and Enzyme Activity. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health Link. (Impact Factor: 4.54)
- Das, Sourav et al. (2022). Soil aggregate associated carbon and organic carbon pools as affected by conversion of forest lands to agriculture in an acid soil of India. Soil and Tillage Research Link. (Impact Factor: 7.42)
- Das Saha, Namita et al. (2021). Evaluation of Bt cotton effects on belowground microbial community structure and function in tropical western India. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Link. (Impact Factor: 2.86)