Jean Baptiste Biloa | Soil Fertility | Best Academic Researcher Award

Mr. Jean Baptiste Biloa |  Soil Fertility | Best Academic Researcher Award

University of Yaoundé 1,  Cameroon

Professional Profile: Jean Baptiste Biloa is an expert in soil sciences with a focus on soil fertility, plant nutrition, and environmental modeling. He has extensive experience in research, teaching, and consulting on international projects, particularly in soil analysis, natural resource management, and geomatic tools.

Profile:

Academic Background:

  • 2019: PhD in Agro-pedology (defense pending), University of Yaoundé 1

  • 2015: Master’s in Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1

  • 2014: Bachelor’s in Earth Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1

Certifications:

  • 2021: Certificate in Environmental Technology

  • 2020: Certificate of Appreciation – Inspire Hackathon Innovation Award

  • 2019: Certificate in Open Data Management for Agriculture, Nutrition, and Land (GODAN/FAO)

  • 2019: Certificate in Global Access to Agricultural Research (AGORA) – Research for Life

  • 2019: Certificate in Agricultural Data Management, Sharing, and Services for Agricultural Development (FAO)

Professional Experience:

  • 2023 – 2024: Soil Resources Expert, Soil, Water, and Climate Project (ProSEC), German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)

  • 2022 – 2023: Temporary Lecturer, University of Ebolowa, ENSET, and ISABEE

  • 2016 – 2023: Consultant and Student, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

  • 2018 – 2023: Consultant, GEOLAB SOLUTION & KOM

Technical Skills:

  • Environmental Modeling: Hydrus 1D, SWAT, AquaCrop

  • Mapping: Global Mapper, Surfer, Google Earth

  • Data Analysis: XLSTAT, R, JMP SAS, JAMOVI, ODK, Kobo Collect

  • Soil Management: Soil classification (WRB, CPCS, Soil Taxonomy, FAO)

  • Mineral Prospecting: Artisanal and semi-mechanized techniques, GPS usage

Scientific Publications:

  • “Influence of cocoa farm age, slope, and shade rate on cocoa soil fertility” (2025)

  • “Soil organic carbon and nutrient content across agricultural systems in the forest-savannah transition zone of Cameroon” (2025)

  • “Soil carbon and nutrient (NPK) content in tropical shifting cultivation systems under indigenous agricultural management practices: a review” (2025)

  • “Bioassay as a proxy for soil fertility and quality diagnosis in cocoa agroforestry systems” (2025)

  • “Variability of soil organic carbon and nutrient content across land uses and agriculturally induced land use changes in the forest-savannah transition zone of Cameroon” (2024)

Professional Affiliations:

  • President, Cameroonian Association for Soil Studies (ACES)

  • Member, GODAN (Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition)

  • Member, APS2 (Association for the Protection of Soil and Subsoil)

  • Member, Research4Life and the Global Soil Partnership (GSP)

  • Member, European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform (ESPP)

Publication:

  • Influence of cocoa farm age and slope, and shade rate on cocoa soils fertility

Jianling Fan | Soil Fertility | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Jianling Fan |  Soil Fertility | Best Researcher Award

Professor at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, China

Prof. Dr. Jianling Fan is a Professor at the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology. He holds a Ph.D. from the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Dr. Fan has a strong research background in soil carbon and nitrogen transformation, ecosystem carbon cycle modelling, and environmental effects. He worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2014-2017) and became a full professor at Nanjing University in 2018. Dr. Fan has made significant contributions to soil science, receiving over 3,300 citations and being named among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University in 2023-2024.

Profile:

Academic & Professional Background 🎓

Prof. Dr. Jianling Fan holds a Ph.D. from the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He completed his NSERC Post-doctoral Research Fellowship at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2014-2017). Since 2018, he has served as a full professor at Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology. His research primarily focuses on soil carbon and nitrogen transformations and ecosystem carbon cycle modelling. He was named among the Top 2% Scientists globally by Stanford University in 2023-2024.

Research Interests 🌍

  1. Soil Carbon & Nitrogen Transformation: Studying their environmental impacts, particularly related to greenhouse gas emissions.

  2. Ecosystem Carbon Cycle Modelling: Focused on improving carbon cycle estimations for large-scale agricultural systems.

Research Contributions & Achievements 🌿

  • Research Projects: Completed 9 research projects (5 as Principal Investigator and 4 as main researcher), with 3 ongoing projects.

  • Citations: 3389 citations with an H-index of 32 (Google Scholar).

  • Publications: Authored 52 SCI journal articles and 26 in CNKI (Chinese).

  • Patents: Holder of 7 Chinese patents.

  • Books: Published various books related to soil science and carbon cycling.

Consultancy & Collaborations 🤝

Prof. Dr. Fan collaborates extensively with scientists from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and many research institutions in China. He has also engaged in 2 consultancy/industry projects.

Professional Memberships 🔗

  • Soil Science Society of China

  • American Society of Agronomy (ASA)

  • Crop Science Society of America (CSSA)

  • Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

  • Canadian Society of Soil Science

Innovations & Groundbreaking Research 🌟

  • Dr. Fan has made pioneering contributions to understanding the effects of atmospheric nitrogen and sulphur deposition on soil organic carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. His studies have led to improved carbon input estimation methods in agricultural ecosystems.

  • He developed energy analysis systems incorporating soil organic carbon changes, overcoming limitations of existing methods and expanding their applications.

Awards & Recognition 🏆

Prof. Dr. Fan’s groundbreaking work has earned him recognition in Stanford University’s Top 2% Scientists List (2023-2024), marking him as one of the leading experts in his field.

Citations:

  • Total Citations: 3389

  • Citations Since 2020: 2551

  • H-index: 32

  • H-index Since 2020: 28

  • i10-index: 42

  • i10-index Since 2020: 39

Publication Top Notes:

  • Root distribution by depth for temperate agricultural crops
    J Fan, B McConkey, H Wang, H Janzen
    Field Crops Research, 189, 68-74, 510 citations, 2016

  • Wheat straw-derived biochar amendment stimulated N2O emissions from rice paddy soils by regulating the amoA genes of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria
    Y Lin, W Ding, D Liu, T He, G Yoo, J Yuan, Z Chen, J Fan
    Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 113, 89-98, 210 citations, 2017

  • Importance of heterotrophic nitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium in a cropland soil: evidences from a 15N tracing study to literature synthesis
    Z Chen, W Ding, Y Xu, C Müller, T Rütting, H Yu, J Fan, J Zhang, T Zhu
    Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 91, 65-75, 185 citations, 2015

  • Nutrient addition reduces carbon sequestration in a Tibetan grassland soil: Disentangling microbial and physical controls
    R Luo, Y Kuzyakov, D Liu, J Fan, J Luo, S Lindsey, JS He, W Ding
    Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 144, 107764, 164 citations, 2020

  • Excessive sulfur supply reduces cadmium accumulation in brown rice (Oryza sativa L.)
    JL Fan, ZY Hu, N Ziadi, X Xia, CYH Wu
    Environmental Pollution, 158(2), 409-415, 156 citations, 2010

  • Effect of long-term compost and inorganic fertilizer application on background N2O and fertilizer-induced N2O emissions from an intensively cultivated soil
    W Ding, J Luo, J Li, H Yu, J Fan, D Liu
    Science of the Total Environment, 465, 115-124, 140 citations, 2013

  • Nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment accelerates soil organic carbon loss in alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau
    R Luo, J Fan, W Wang, J Luo, Y Kuzyakov, JS He, H Chu, W Ding
    Science of the Total Environment, 650, 303-312, 138 citations, 2019

  • Carbon sequestration in an intensively cultivated sandy loam soil in the North China Plain as affected by compost and inorganic fertilizer application
    J Fan, W Ding, J Xiang, S Qin, J Zhang, N Ziadi
    Geoderma, 230, 22-28, 124 citations, 2014

  • Influence of 20–year organic and inorganic fertilization on organic carbon accumulation and microbial community structure of aggregates in an intensively cultivated sandy loam soil
    H Zhang, W Ding, X He, H Yu, J Fan, D Liu
    PLoS One, 9(3), e92733, 104 citations, 2014

  • Effect of application of dairy manure, effluent and inorganic fertilizer on nitrogen leaching in clayey fluvo-aquic soil: A lysimeter study
    J Fan, J Xiao, D Liu, G Ye, J Luo, D Houlbrooke, S Laurenson, J Yan, …
    Science of the Total Environment, 592, 206-214, 99 citations, 2017

  • Soil autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration in response to different N fertilization and environmental conditions from a cropland in Northeast China
    Z Chen, Y Xu, J Fan, H Yu, W Ding
    Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 110, 103-115, 96 citations, 2017

  • Dominant effects of organic carbon chemistry on decomposition dynamics of crop residues in a Mollisol
    Y Xu, Z Chen, S Fontaine, W Wang, J Luo, J Fan, W Ding
    Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 115, 221-232, 88 citations, 2017

  • Nitrogen fertilization stimulated soil heterotrophic but not autotrophic respiration in cropland soils: A greater role of organic over inorganic fertilizer
    Z Chen, Y Xu, Y He, X Zhou, J Fan, H Yu, W Ding
    Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 116, 253-264, 81 citations, 2018

  • Grazing improves C and N cycling in the Northern Great Plains: A meta-analysis
    X Wang, BG McConkey, AJ VandenBygaart, J Fan, A Iwaasa, …
    Scientific Reports, 6(1), 33190, 78 citations, 2016

  • Crop rotation, tillage system, and precipitation regime effects on soil carbon stocks over 1 to 30 years in Saskatchewan, Canada
    É Maillard, BG McConkey, MS Luce, DA Angers, J Fan
    Soil and Tillage Research, 177, 97-104, 77 citations, 2018

  • Increasing crop yields and root input make Canadian farmland a large carbon sink
    J Fan, BG McConkey, BC Liang, DA Angers, HH Janzen, R Kröbel, …
    Geoderma, 336, 49-58, 73 citations, 2019

  • Thirty-year amendment of horse manure and chemical fertilizer on the availability of micronutrients at the aggregate scale in black soil
    J Fan, W Ding, Z Chen, N Ziadi
    Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 19, 2745-2754, 70 citations, 2012

  • Harvest index–yield relationship for estimating crop residue in cold continental climates
    J Fan, B McConkey, H Janzen, L Townley-Smith, H Wang
    Field Crops Research, 204, 153-157, 65 citations, 2017

  • Organic fertilizers have divergent effects on soil N2O emissions
    T He, J Yuan, J Luo, W Wang, J Fan, D Liu, W Ding
    Biology and Fertility of Soils, 55, 685-699, 60 citations, 2019

  • Extreme rainfall and snowfall alter responses of soil respiration to nitrogen fertilization: a 3‐year field experiment
    Z Chen, Y Xu, X Zhou, J Tang, Y Kuzyakov, H Yu, J Fan, W Ding
    Global Change Biology, 23(8), 3403-3417, 60 citations, 2017

Mukhtar Abdulraheem | Soil Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr Mukhtar Abdulraheem |  Soil Science |  Best Researcher Award

Researcher at  Henan Agricultural University,  China

ABDULRAHEEM, Mukhtar Iderawumi Ph.D. Candidate, Agricultural Engineering (2024) College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China

Publication profile:

Academic/Professional Qualifications:

  1. PhD Agricultural Engineering (2024)
  2. MSc Agricultural Technology (Soil Management) (2014)
  3. PGD in Crop, Soil & Pest Management (2011)
  4. B.Sc. (Ed.) Agricultural Science (2016)
  5. Certificate in MIS & Data Processing (2009)
  6. HND in Agriculture (Crop Production) (2008)
  7. NCE Agricultural Education/Visually Impaired (2002)

Research Work:

  • Effects of Integrated Urea and Sawdust Ash on Soil and Okra Performance (MSc)
  • Geometric Row Arrangement on Cowpea Growth and Yield in Maize-Cowpea Intercrop (HND)

Citations:

  • Citations: 462 (total), 424 (since 2019)
  • h-index: 11 (total), 10 (since 2019)
  • i10-index: 13 (total), 11 (since 2019)

Publication Top Notes:

  • Interactions of metal‐based engineered nanoparticles with plants: an overview of the state of current knowledge, research progress, and prospects
    A. Wahab, A. Munir, M.H. Saleem, M.I. AbdulRaheem, H. Aziz, M.F.B. Mfarrej, …
    Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 42 (9), 5396-5416, 2023.
  • Characteristics effects of weed on growth performance and yield of maize (Zea mays)
    M.I. Abdulraheem, C.E. Friday
    Biomedical Journal 1 (4), 31*, 2018.
  • Applied surface enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in plant hormones detection, annexation of advanced technologies: A review
    S.M.Z.A. Naqvi, Y. Zhang, S. Ahmed, M.I. Abdulraheem, J. Hu, M.N. Tahir, …
    Talanta 236, 122823, 2022.
  • Advancement of Remote Sensing for Soil Measurements and Applications: A Comprehensive Review
    M.I. Abdulraheem, W. Zhang, S. Li, A.J. Moshayedi, A.A. Farooque, J. Hu
    Sustainability 15 (21), 15444, 2023.
  • Integrated application of urea and sawdust ash: Effect on soil chemical properties, plant nutrients and sorghum performance
    M.I. Abdulraheem, S.O. Ojeniyi, E.F. Charles
    International Organization of Scientific Research-Journal of Agriculture and … 20*, 2012.
  • Comparative Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic on Agricultural Production and Marketing in Nigeria
    A.B. Oyetoro, M.I. Abdulraheem, T. Adefare
    Global Journal of Science Frontier Research 20 (9), 25 – 30, 2020.
  • Green Manure for Agricultural Sustainability and Improvement of Soil Fertility
    M.I. Abdulraheem, O.K. Tobe
    Farming & Management 7 (1), 1 – 8, 2022.
  • Mechanisms of Plant Epigenetic Regulation in Response to Plant Stress: Recent Discoveries and Implications
    M.I. Abdulraheem, Y. Xiong, A.Y. Moshood, G. Cadenas-Pliego, H. Zhang, …
    Plants 13 (2), 1 – 25, 2024.
  • Effects of geometric row arrangement on growth and yield of cowpea in a maize-cowpea intercrop
    A.M. Iderawumi, C.E. Friday
    Indian Journal of Innovation Development 2, 816-820, 2013.
  • Combined Application of Urea and Sawdust Ash in Okra Production: Effects on Yield and Nutrients Availability
    M.I. Abdulraheem, S.O. Ojeniyi
    Nigerian Journal of Soil Science 25 (1), 146-154, 2015.
  • Effect of cowpea on growth and yield parameter in a maize-cowpea intercrop
    A.M. Iderawumi
    Journal of Management and Science 4 (1), 37-42, 2014.
  • Vermicompost Technology: Impact on the Environment and Food Security
    J. Fudzagbo, A.M. Iderawumi
    Agriculture and Environment 1 (1), 87 – 93, 2020.
  • Effect of rural-urban migration on education and economics development
    M.I. Abdulraheem, M.A. Iderawumi
    American Journal of Trade and Policy 6 (1), 7-12, 2019.
  • Molecular communication network and its applications in crop sciences
    S. Ahmed, J. Hu, S.M.Z.A. Naqvi, Y. Zhang, L. Linze, A.M. Iderawumi
    Planta 255 (6), 128, 2022.
  • Combined application of ammonium nitrate and goat manure: Effects on soil nutrients availability, Okra performance and sustainable food security
    M.I. Abdulraheem, S.A. Lawal
    Open Access Research Journal of Life Sciences 1 (1), 21 – 28, 2021.
  • Comparative performance of different varieties of maize under organic, inorganic and combined (Organic and Inorganic) fertilization
    M.I. Abdulraheem, E.F. Charles, A.Y. Moshood, A.M. Omogoye
    Agricultural Studies International Technology and Science Publications 2 (2 …
  • Effects of Different Planting Pattern on Total Dry Matter Production and Maize Forage Quality in Maize (Zea mays) and Cowpea (Vigna sinensis) Intercropped as Whole-Crop
    C.E.F. Abdulraheem, M.I. Ojeniyi
    IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science 1 (4), 42-46, 2012.
  • Impact of Transportation on Agricultural Practices and Production in Rural Areas: Implication for Sustainable Food Security
    A.M. Iderawumi
    Biomedical Journal of Scientific and Technical Research 35 (2), 27475 – 27479, 2021.
  • Problems and Prospects of Subsistence Agriculture among Peasant Farmers in Rural Area
    A.M. Iderawumi
    International Journal of World Policy and Development Studies 6 (6), 51 – 55, 2020.
  • Impact of Micro Credit Financing on Agricultural Production
    M.I. Abdulraheem
    ANGLISTICUM. Journal of the Association-Institute for English Language and … 8*, 2016.

 

 

Zaryab Murad | Plant Growth | Young Scientist Award

Mr Zaryab Murad |  Plant Growth  |  Young Scientist Award

Ph.D. Scholar at  Huazhong Agriculture University, China

Zaryab Murad, born on April 14, 1996, is a Pakistani national currently residing in Wuhan, Hubei, China. With a solid academic background in Soil and Environmental Sciences, he is pursuing his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) at Huazhong Agriculture University. Zaryab completed both his Master of Sciences (Hons) and Bachelor of Sciences (Hons) in Agriculture at The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan. His research focuses on the effects of bentonite clay and biochar on soil contamination and plant growth. Professionally, he has served as a Field Survey Project Manager at TAMEER-E-KHALAQ Foundation, where he works towards improving food security and agricultural practices. Additionally, he has held the position of Agriculture Policy Officer at the Agriculture Extension Department in KP, Pakistan. Fluent in Urdu and proficient in English, Zaryab has been recognized for his contributions to the field, including being a Gold Medalist at his alma mater. His technical skills include expertise in MS Office, Endnote, Statistics 8.1, Graphpad, and Sigmaplot.

Profile: 

Education and Training:

Zaryab Murad is a Doctoral candidate in Soil Science at Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan, China, with a focus on soil and environmental sciences. He completed his Master of Sciences (Hons) and Bachelor of Sciences (Hons) in Agriculture at The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan. His research includes the effects of bentonite clay and biochar on soil contamination and plant growth. He has gained hands-on experience with various soil analysis techniques, including using Flame Photometers and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers.

Work Experience:

Currently, Zaryab is a Field Survey Project Manager at TAMEER-E-KHALAQ Foundation, where he focuses on agricultural development and food security. He has previously served as an Agriculture Policy Officer at the Agriculture Extension Department in KP, Pakistan. His work involves enhancing production, facilitating value addition, and improving crop varieties.

Honors and Awards:

  • Gold Medalist, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, 2022

Certificates and Trainings:

  • Attended workshops and congresses on sustainable soil management and weed science.
  • Participated in the HZAU Happy Festival at Huazhong Agriculture University.

Research Focus: Plant Growth

Zaryab Murad’s research focuses on enhancing plant growth through innovative soil management techniques. His work primarily investigates the effects of soil amendments, such as bentonite clay and biochar, on the phytoavailability of heavy metals and overall plant health. Zaryab’s research aims to improve crop yields and soil fertility while mitigating contamination effects. His studies include evaluating how biochar and other amendments can stabilize heavy metals in soil and enhance the growth of various crops, particularly in contaminated environments. This research contributes to sustainable agricultural practices by improving soil conditions and plant resilience against pollutants.

Publication Top Notes:

  • Murad, Z., Bibi, S., Ahmad, S.E.Y., Manan, U., & Younas, M. (2024). Stabilization of Cd in Soil by Biochar and Growth of Rice (Oryza sativa) in Artificially Contaminated Soil. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 40(1), 231–245.
  • Khan, U., Irfan, M., Murad, Z., Waleed, M., & Kamal, A. (2023). Enhancing Lettuce Growth and Cadmium and Lead Tolerance Through Biochar and Bacteria. Gesunde Pflanzen, 75(6), 2685–2696.
  • Ilyas, M., Khan, M.J., Murad, Z., Ullah, A., & Farhan. (2023). Biofortification of Iron in Wheat Varieties Using Different Methods of Application. Gesunde Pflanzen, 75(5), 2177–2185.
  • Murad, Z., Ahmad, I., Waleed, M., Hashim, S., & Bibi, S. (2022). Effect of Biochar on Immobilization of Cadmium and Soil Chemical Properties. Gesunde Pflanzen, 74(1), 151–158.
  • Tariq, M., Khan, M.O., Hussain, A., Khalil, M.K., Muhammad, S., & Murad, Z. (2021). Impact of Soil and Foliar Application of Various Zinc Sources on the Yield and Uptake by Onion Under Agroclimatic Condition of Swat. International Journal of Agricultural and Statistical Sciences, 17, 2363–2376.